DogMan · 61-69, M
LegalClarity Team
Published Apr 1, 2026
Scandinavian countries are capitalist. Denmark, Finland, Iceland, Norway, and Sweden all run market economies built on private ownership, free trade, and profit-driven business. What makes them unusual is the size of their welfare states, funded by tax rates that would make most American voters flinch. The combination gets mislabeled as socialism so often that Denmark’s own prime minister once pushed back publicly, telling an audience at Harvard that Denmark is “a market economy” and very much not a socialist planned economy. The real answer is more interesting than either label suggests.
Published Apr 1, 2026
Scandinavian countries are capitalist. Denmark, Finland, Iceland, Norway, and Sweden all run market economies built on private ownership, free trade, and profit-driven business. What makes them unusual is the size of their welfare states, funded by tax rates that would make most American voters flinch. The combination gets mislabeled as socialism so often that Denmark’s own prime minister once pushed back publicly, telling an audience at Harvard that Denmark is “a market economy” and very much not a socialist planned economy. The real answer is more interesting than either label suggests.
MoveAlong · 70-79, M
The middle class is shrinking and the wealth is being funneled more and more into the hands of the wealthiest Americans and corporations. This is just a fact. The scales have been tipped so heavily against working families they see the only way out is through government subsidies to even afford the bare necessities.
And it's not just the "welfare queens" with their hands out. The wealthiest man in the world, a man who is wealthier than 176 countries receives billions of dollars every year in government subsidies. He is wealthy enough to completely fund NASA for the next ten years. Yet the government pays him billions every year above contract value to launch rockets.
God forbid we waste hundreds of dollars a year on a hungry child.
And it's not just the "welfare queens" with their hands out. The wealthiest man in the world, a man who is wealthier than 176 countries receives billions of dollars every year in government subsidies. He is wealthy enough to completely fund NASA for the next ten years. Yet the government pays him billions every year above contract value to launch rockets.
God forbid we waste hundreds of dollars a year on a hungry child.
Kypro · 46-50, M
It works better?
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DogMan · 61-69, M
@samueltyler2 I hear ya. I have no love for the super rich. Sure, you and I would give away millions
if we were billionaires. But we aren't. But they do spend a lot of money, and people profit from that
money they spend. As long as they do it legally more power to them
if we were billionaires. But we aren't. But they do spend a lot of money, and people profit from that
money they spend. As long as they do it legally more power to them
DogMan · 61-69, M
@samueltyler2 which point?
samueltyler2 · 80-89, M
@DogMan that is my question to you? You talked about the cars and motorcycles you own.
SunshineGirl · 36-40, F
Why do you get so hung up on labels? You've pre-determined that "socialism" is something akin to devil-worship and you use it to divide the sheep from the cattle. Isn't everyone looking for essentially the same thing? How to reform capitalism after the free market-driven s**tshow of 2007-8 and make it work better for everyone. Trump thinks the answer is centrally-planned protectionism and public subsidy for areas of the economy favoured by the state. That to my mind is far more reminiscent of 20th century socialism than a general aspiration for universal healthcare. Times change, successful economies innovate and adapt. Those who remain anchored to rhe past will shrivel into irrelevance.
SumKindaMunster · 56-60, M
@SunshineGirl That's swell, glad to hear it.
Perhaps then you could use some of your time ensuring that your fellow leftists start using both terms correctly instead of constantly punching down on Sporto here, who is not going to listen to anything you say.
Perhaps then you could use some of your time ensuring that your fellow leftists start using both terms correctly instead of constantly punching down on Sporto here, who is not going to listen to anything you say.
SunshineGirl · 36-40, F
@SumKindaMunster You could start by not classifying me as "leftist".
SumKindaMunster · 56-60, M
@SunshineGirl OK, how do you classify yourself politically?
Kypro · 46-50, M
30% approve Trump
We need something different. Dems don’t have all the answers but reps only help the wealthy.
We need something different. Dems don’t have all the answers but reps only help the wealthy.
DogMan · 61-69, M
@Kypro Pennsylvania Democrat Sen. John Fetterman told CNN on Wednesday that, based on his experience, the radical haters on the political left are meaner and more vicious than those on the right.
"The difference is the right will say really rough things and call me names - some I won't repeat on TV - but on the left, it was like they want me to die," he said.
"The difference is the right will say really rough things and call me names - some I won't repeat on TV - but on the left, it was like they want me to die," he said.
ViciDraco · 41-45, M
Because people are learning that reaganomics has been slowly killing the economic prosperity of the majority while elevating the wealth of a small minority to insane proportions. Despite being the wealthiest nation we are also ranked highly as one of the most miserable. People are tired of both political parties being captured by corporate interests.
There is a lot of room between where we are and Socialism though. We also want to make sure we aim for a more libertarian form closer to what the scandinavian nations practice.
There is a lot of room between where we are and Socialism though. We also want to make sure we aim for a more libertarian form closer to what the scandinavian nations practice.
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SatanBurger · 36-40, F
Because more and more with Trump removing safety and welfare programs it's exposing deficits in our economy between the super rich and poor. Elon Musk has become the first trillionaire, meanwhile they keep saying they don't have money for decent child care or affordable health.
Also the same ppl against socialism typically are right wingers who support the billionaire class and say out loud how people don't work hard enough in a world where people have to work 2 or 3 jobs to survive.
Over time people see the illusion and want alternatives. Nobody is really proposing anything else and people are less likely to believe republicans since they been screwing up. It's about trust, not socialism that is the heart.
Also the same ppl against socialism typically are right wingers who support the billionaire class and say out loud how people don't work hard enough in a world where people have to work 2 or 3 jobs to survive.
Over time people see the illusion and want alternatives. Nobody is really proposing anything else and people are less likely to believe republicans since they been screwing up. It's about trust, not socialism that is the heart.
SatanBurger · 36-40, F
@DogMan Hard work doesn't guarantee success if the system is rigged against you. When wages stagnate while housing, healthcare, and education costs skyrocket, it forces people into survival mode (working 2 or 3 jobs), leaving zero room for them to "do what is necessary" to climb the ladder.
Republicans offerings aren't working, socialism working or not isn't the reason people are turning to socialism, people are just recognizing people lie and offer nothing but criticism.
Republicans offerings aren't working, socialism working or not isn't the reason people are turning to socialism, people are just recognizing people lie and offer nothing but criticism.
SunshineGirl · 36-40, F
@DogMan
Millions of people benefited from being able to access affordable healthcare . . and the economy benefited from resulting productivity savings. That is the whole point of universal healthcare. If there is evidence of fraud and excessive profit taking, deal with that problem in isolation. Don't use it as an excuse to wreck a popular and wholly rational policy just because you don't like the person who introduced it. That is spiteful ideology.
What about Obama Care? Oh yeah, the health care industry and politicians
are the only ones that profited from that.
are the only ones that profited from that.
Millions of people benefited from being able to access affordable healthcare . . and the economy benefited from resulting productivity savings. That is the whole point of universal healthcare. If there is evidence of fraud and excessive profit taking, deal with that problem in isolation. Don't use it as an excuse to wreck a popular and wholly rational policy just because you don't like the person who introduced it. That is spiteful ideology.
SumKindaMunster · 56-60, M
AthrillatheHunt · 56-60, M
sunsporter1649 · 70-79, M
