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Finland is just killing it lately, I wish Sweden could be more like Finland.

dagw 9y ago
In what sense? Sweden has had a deregulated taxi market for ages
stevekemp 9y ago
Could you be more specific? Sure Finland has a lot of great things, despite its small size, but it seems odd that you'd say "lately".
deanclatworthy 9y ago
It’s funny the outsiders perspective of Finland. I can assure you there are plenty of problems here. The government being broke for one and making obscene cuts across the board.
- sol_remmy 9y ago
  i.e. The government is reducing taxes and reducing services. That's precisely WHY some people like Finland. The government is stepping out of the way (as we can see in this article)
- ersii 9y ago
  That actually sounds perfect in my book, where they are supposed to be as broke as possible and do as little as possible or nothing. :-) (Yes yes, I'm well aware that most other HNers are of another opinion than I am.)
- fulafel 9y ago
  By the numbers Finland looks like one of the not-so-broke governments in EU: https://www.statista.com/statistics/269684/national-debt-in-eu-countries-in-relation-to-gross-domestic-product-gdp/ https://www.statista.com/statistics/269684/national-debt-in-... A common neoliberal political strategy is to kick up drama about state finances to justify tax cuts and reductions in public services in spite of popular support for welfare, maybe the same here?
acompetency 9y ago
With the healthcare system being privatized, higher education receiving massive cutbacks, falling PISA scores, social welfare being slashed and shoehorned into a new model conditional on employment status, mass surveillance bills being pushed through parliament, a rising far right etc. etc... I agree that it would be wonderful if any country could be more like Finland now, but I doubt you'd want to head the way the country is currently going.
TorKlingberg 9y ago
Swedish taxis have been deregulated for ages. It means you have to be careful at the airport, because the taxis waiting can charge you absolutely what they want to take you into the city.
dang 9y ago
I realize you're not saying that as a putdown, but please don't post unsubstantive comments about nationalities to HN—it provokes off-topic, often flamewarrish subthreads.

dagw 9y ago

In what sense? Sweden has had a deregulated taxi market for ages

Could you be more specific? Sure Finland has a lot of great things, despite its small size, but it seems odd that you'd say "lately".

deanclatworthy 9y ago

It’s funny the outsiders perspective of Finland. I can assure you there are plenty of problems here. The government being broke for one and making obscene cuts across the board.

sol_remmy 9y ago
i.e. The government is reducing taxes and reducing services. That's precisely WHY some people like Finland. The government is stepping out of the way (as we can see in this article)
ersii 9y ago
That actually sounds perfect in my book, where they are supposed to be as broke as possible and do as little as possible or nothing. :-) (Yes yes, I'm well aware that most other HNers are of another opinion than I am.)
fulafel 9y ago
By the numbers Finland looks like one of the not-so-broke governments in EU: https://www.statista.com/statistics/269684/national-debt-in-eu-countries-in-relation-to-gross-domestic-product-gdp/ https://www.statista.com/statistics/269684/national-debt-in-... A common neoliberal political strategy is to kick up drama about state finances to justify tax cuts and reductions in public services in spite of popular support for welfare, maybe the same here?

acompetency 9y ago

With the healthcare system being privatized, higher education receiving massive cutbacks, falling PISA scores, social welfare being slashed and shoehorned into a new model conditional on employment status, mass surveillance bills being pushed through parliament, a rising far right etc. etc... I agree that it would be wonderful if any country could be more like Finland now, but I doubt you'd want to head the way the country is currently going.

TorKlingberg 9y ago

Swedish taxis have been deregulated for ages. It means you have to be careful at the airport, because the taxis waiting can charge you absolutely what they want to take you into the city.

dang 9y ago

I realize you're not saying that as a putdown, but please don't post unsubstantive comments about nationalities to HN—it provokes off-topic, often flamewarrish subthreads.