4 ms·
it is dangerous to assume that the US culture is the default culture. social trust is not a new thing in Scandinavia. it has been a part of the society for cen
by madsbuch 3y ago
it is dangerous to assume that the US culture is the default culture.
social trust is not a new thing in Scandinavia. it has been a part of the society for centuries.
Denmark is arguably also more capitalistic than the US. the median wealth is almost double that of the US. hence the Danish system, despite some of the world's highest taxes, easier allow people to build wealth.
- ChrisMarshallNY 3y agoI understand. I was raised overseas, and am intimately familiar with non-US cultures. I love Scandinavian socialism, but I have also watched as US-style capitalism has permeated even the most resistant societies. The Internet, and the platform it provides for social contagion, are probably responsible for that. Additionally, it is easy to have socialism, with a relatively heterogeneous population, but nations like the US and, increasingly, many other nations, make it a lot more difficult.
- madsbuch 3y agoI am curious, what do you mean with US-style capitalism? Denmark, and EU by extension, is far from perfect. But I do see less oligarchy-leaning tendencies in the EU vs. the US. and I don't see that this is currently changing, quite the opposite. My immediate understanding of US capitalism would be an oligarchic type of capitalism where regulation favour those with wealth already.
- ChrisMarshallNY 3y agoBasically, the "Greed is Good" school of capitalism. It's a fundamental personal attitude, as opposed to corporate position, or governmental ideology. Very self-centered, self-absorbed, make sure that everyone else knows you're rich. You are only considered "successful," if you can display certain wealth tells. That tends to breed certain behaviors; regardless of the society.