Editor,
The term “democratic socialism” is a contradiction in terms. There’s nothing democratic about a socialist government that taxes most of your income while enforcing stifling conformity and government dependency. Ask the British who threw out socialism after it nearly bankrupted their country in 1979. The crushing defeat of their socialist (Labor) party in the recent election, reaffirmed their distain for socialism. Bernie Sanders would have us become a socialist “light” country like Denmark where the government exercises de facto ownership of companies through regulations. He says taxes on the rich would pay for socialist spending. But not so with Danes who pay a 60% income tax, a 25% sales tax and a recently enacted 100% car tax by 2023.
(4) comments
Do you think China will run out of money? China also has a form of capitalism that seems to be giving us strong competition these days...
After all the LTEs and comments explaining the true meaning of “Democratic Socialism” and “Socialized Capitalism”, you still seem confused about the meaning av today’s “socialism’, - in countries like ours! So, why are the Scandinavian “socialist” countries doing so well? There’s no loss of individual freedom, while people are free to enjoy healthier environment, free education and health care for all. And, where on Earth did you find the “60% taxation” in Denmark? What nonsense! Do you understand the difference between overall tax% and marginal tax%? Probably not. While very high incomes are taxed at a higher rate, i.e. a marginal tax rate over a certain, high amount, doesn’t mean that the entire income is taxed at that rate. Take Norway, where I understand taxes are higher than in the rest of the Scandinavian countries. According to the public tax reports, published annually in the newspapers to show the high income earners, very few end up paying more than 40% of the entire income! Those people would end up paying more here, without the benefit of free education through graduate school, free health care and a healthier environment, cleaner water and air! So you see, - socialism does work, at least in countries somewhat comparable to the US.
How do you give free health care for all and at the same time advocate for open borders. Scandinavian countries have much stricter immigration laws and if you look at their demographic, they have a huge majority of white people. Diversity is non- existent.
I give you a point there, Chris! You are right, the Scandinavian countries are smaller and somewhat more homogenous, and thus, easier to govern. However, they have some serious immigration problems, too, especially from the Mid-East and Africa, with Muslims bringing in new crimes and unwanted religious problems incompatible with secular environments. Nevertheless, they have handled education and medical care in a manner that should be a model for the rest of the world.
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