The Norway Model: How the Scandinavian country became a literary powerhouse

Re:The Norway Model: How the Scandinavian country became a l... by vidarh on Tuesday December 05, 2023 @04:08AM (#38528520)

Having spent enough time in the US that the immigration officials used to flick through my passport in disbelief at the number of US stamps I had in there, I think the disbelief is entirely justified because our concern is not what life is like as someone in a good job, but what society is like somewhere with the huge disparities and huge gaps in social safety nets there is in the US, and I've seen enough of the outcome of that first hand to know I have no desire to live in American conditions even if my jobs experience means I'd personally have a safe, comfortable, easy and secure life.

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Re:The Norway Model: How the Scandinavian country became a l... by DeathArrow on Tuesday December 05, 2023 @05:28AM (#38529126)

>what society is like somewhere with the huge disparities and huge gaps in social safety nets that are there in the US

True, in US you have to work to earn a living.

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Re:The Norway Model: How the Scandinavian country became a l... by throwaway_1987 on Tuesday December 05, 2023 @08:38AM (#38530517)

Work does not guarantee a decent living. There are many who work full-time low paying jobs. Many even need a second job to just to "earn a living"

As a European, it is really strange to see this attitude of "survival of the fittest" here on HN

The average HN reader probably works in an office with a decent salary. Why should we deserve better health care than people doing hard physical labor and have to retire early because their bodies are broken. The society is depending on them to function, so we could at least offer them adequate health care. Someone working in a factory or delivering your Amazon packages also work hard. Much harder than what I do.

The lack of humanity in one of the most religious countries in the western world surprises me.

The same can be said about humane treatment of prisoners. Abuse and rape in prisons have become standard jokes in American comedy. I guess they deserve it when they dare to steal your car...

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Re:The Norway Model: How the Scandinavian country became a l... by DeathArrow on Tuesday December 05, 2023 @11:25AM (#38532965)

You don't deserve goods or services. You pay for them, or others pay for them if you live in a welfare state and you don't work. Either way, the doctor needs the money to buy food.

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Re:The Norway Model: How the Scandinavian country became a l... by vidarh on Tuesday December 05, 2023 @05:42AM (#38529228)

And this is why we don't want American conditions.

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