2007-05-21 10:10:25 · 5 answers · asked by Adam K 1 in Social Science ➔ Economics
1. Nordic states export oil or gas,
which is a "free" income for the economy
2. their population is highly educated & civilized,
I.e. only a few people receive welfare,
and there is no need for expensive police force
3. There is not much immigration coming in,
So #2 does not change.
4. They have weak military and rely on other NATO countries (including US) to protect them
Which frees up both budget money and human capital.
5. That there is no variation in culture, farming or natural resources within the country (due to small size).
So you do not have division into donor/reciepient states within the country.
Once you can imitate conditions 1-5 in US, you can have a welfare state.
2007-05-21 10:13:51 · answer #1 · answered by Anonymous · 1⤊ 0⤋
My guess is that a welfare state like those in Scandanavia would not work in the USA. The populations of the Nordic countries is relatively homogenous with shared culture and values. The economic class structures and resulting tensions in this country do not exist there. Taxation is very high and has been accepted by the people as necessary for the maintenance of the welfare state which they chose to have. None of those conditions are true in this country. Class, race, immigration, even language have fractured the US to an extent that consensus required for a welfare state is simply not possible.
2007-05-21 10:56:15 · answer #2 · answered by Anonymous · 1⤊ 0⤋
I know you think that by following other societies with a good reputation that the Us could share in the prosperity, but the facts are that the US is a very unique society with complex socioeconomic structures. If we became a welfare state, income taxes would be about 50%!! Also, as a welfare state, the US government would have their hands in every aspect of life. If you think now is bad, you couldn't imagine life with a socialist America. It would also undermine the Constitiution and it's original intent. America tried the socialist system in the late 1600s. It didn't work, that's when we tried the capitalist system and it has worked ever since. the driving force of an economy is self-interest. If the government takes more control, we lose self-interest, thus we lose entrepeneurs inventors, and the will to work.
2007-05-21 10:28:09 · answer #3 · answered by sectn_8 1 · 1⤊ 0⤋
It would be the smart thing to do. And thats the problem, people would have to be smart. Look around. See any indication of that? Me, either. No, America will continue deteriorating into a banana republic with 1 % of the population owning 99.9 % of the wealth and the people will be happy without health care. Its what they vote for when they vote Republican. All the money has been given away to billionaires, war profiteers, and Communist China. So there is zero chance of the US ever coming back. Get used to it.
2007-05-21 10:15:14 · answer #4 · answered by jxt299 7 · 0⤊ 1⤋
"Standard of Living" is relative. People in a welfare state lack the freedom to define for themselves what their standard of living should be.
The answer is no, we shouldn't.
2007-05-21 10:16:40 · answer #5 · answered by Privratnik 5 · 1⤊ 0⤋