A Day In The Life Of A Talk Radio Blogger - Online Magazine: October 2018

Democratic socialists in the United States point to Sweden as a socialist success. But Swedish historian Johan Norberg says, "Sweden is not socialist."

Norberg hosts a documentary called Sweden: Lessons for America?, in which he notes that in Sweden, "government doesn't own the means of production. To see that you have to go to Venezuela or Cuba or North Korea."

John Stossel asks Norberg why so many Americans think Sweden is socialist. Norberg answers, "We did have a period in the 1970s and 1980s when we had something that resembled socialism: a big government that taxed and spent heavily."

But big government led to problems. "Our economy was in crisis, inflation reached 10 percent, and for a brief period interest rates soared to 500 percent. At that point the Swedish population just said, 'Enough, we can't do this,'" Norberg says.

Sweden cut public spending, privatized the national rail network, abolished certain government monopolies, eliminated inheritance taxes, sold state-owned businesses, and switched to a school voucher system. It also "lowered taxes and reformed the pension system," adds Norberg.

So Stossel asks why we keep hearing "that Sweden is this socialist paradise."

Norberg answers: "We do have a bigger welfare state than the U.S. and higher taxes than the U.S. But in other areas, when it comes to free markets, when it comes to competition, when it comes to free trade, Sweden is actually more free market."

He's right, according to the Heritage Foundation's Economic Freedom Rankings. Sweden ranks higher than the U.S.

Norberg also tells Stossel that Sweden's tax system may surprise Americans. "This is the dirty little secret....We don't take from the rich and give to the poor. We squeeze the poor, because rich people might leave."

Even people who earn below average income pay up to 60 percent in taxes.

Stossel asks: What lessons should Americans take from Sweden?

"You can't turn your backs [on] the creation of wealth," warns Norberg.

Sweden: Lessons for America? airs on PBS on October 29th at 7 p.m. Eastern. You can also watch it at freetochoose.tv.
The views expressed in this video are solely those of John Stossel; his independent production company, Stossel Productions; and the people he interviews. The claims and opinions set forth in the video and accompanying text are not necessarily those of Reason.

This is why I uninstall apps such as Facebook.

I have actually had ads targeted to me pop up on FB after texting a friend about something. Just ANOTHER reason, I am no longer on FB.

I was driving home last night after picking up my son Miles aka Sprog #6, when we hit what I thought was a chuck of concrete in the highway. It flattened both passenger side tires on the minivan and I didn't find out until today it also destroyed the rim on the passenger side front wheel.

Grand Total for 2 new tires and a steel replacement rim, $239.17 plus I had to fill my daughters truck for driving me around to take care of all this.

Meanwhile the power converter on my trailer let out all it's magic smoke, and I'm still having to tether my cell phone to get internet.

CRUD!!!

I hate to keep asking but if you can spare some money, I could really use the help.

My daughter still has a page on Go Fund Me for us: Fundraiser for Mark Anderson by Mary Louise Anderson : Help for Anderson Family

And you can always send me money through PayPal; paypal.me/greylocke

Just when I start to get ahead, something happens and screws me up all over again.

"He either fears his fate too much,
Or his desserts are small,
Who dares not put it to the touch,
To win or lose it all!"

- James Graham, 5th Earl of Montrose 1612 to 1650 Royalist General during the English Civil War

Overcome your fear and stand for what you believe, whatever the opposition.

-

Specialization

For Sale: 1995 Dodge Dakota Extended Cab 3.9L V-6 4X4 with Bed Liner and 4 brand new tires.
Asking $1,500.00 O.B.O.
Contact Mark via E-mail at: greylocke (AT) gmail (DOT) com
Truck was NOT submerged after Hurricane Harvey, it does however not idle correctly after it warms up, and I'm tired of messing with it and replacing parts. All Harvey did was to break the drivers side headlight lens. I've got video of my boys and I driving the truck after Harvey while we examined the devastation.

Here is 30 minutes of me and 3 of my sons driving through the aftermath of our county after Hurricane Harvey in the Dakota.

The truck starts and runs fine but when it warms up it doesn't idle right. I'm tired of replacing parts, so I'm selling it.