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Dirty, rotten socialists! (Original Post) True Dough 5 hrs ago OP
Cue the "They're not socialist" tropes! -misanthroptimist 5 hrs ago #1
Oh Yeah? Norway ain't got no MAGA's chouchou 5 hrs ago #2
Norway has a far right. CrimsonBight 3 hrs ago #8
There's always some people that block a fair reality chouchou 1 hr ago #20
"Yes, but the US is so much bigger, we can't do those things." CrispyQ 5 hrs ago #3
While the 2 party system may be a problem your second point is THE most important one IMO. We can address the Cheezoholic 4 hrs ago #6
That's the dumbest argument ever! Jilly_in_VA 2 hrs ago #16
Amazing what you can afford when you don't spend a trillion dollars a year on the military. Ray Bruns 4 hrs ago #4
Yeah, but... BurnDoubt 4 hrs ago #5
Totally agre and its 1.5 now. And for what is what I don't get. We can't even sustain a war with a country like Iran, Cheezoholic 3 hrs ago #7
They also have high taxes and much smaller income gap MadameButterfly 2 hrs ago #14
And when you pay taxes there Jilly_in_VA 2 hrs ago #17
Your words are very true !....and the wealthy don't get "To Skate" out of sharing wealth. chouchou 1 hr ago #19
I think that demography should be included question everything 3 hrs ago #9
people are people markie 3 hrs ago #10
That just means the far right doesn't get to blame MadameButterfly 2 hrs ago #15
Have you been there lately? Jilly_in_VA 2 hrs ago #18
Norway advantages vs. US advantages Soul_of_Wit 3 hrs ago #11
Social Democracy is still capitalism. SidneyR 3 hrs ago #12
Add Belgium to the list. Swede 3 hrs ago #13
Does this mean HAB911 1 hr ago #21

CrispyQ

(41,208 posts)
3. "Yes, but the US is so much bigger, we can't do those things."
Tue Jul 7, 2026, 10:40 AM
5 hrs ago

That is the typical response by so many people, even on our side. Seems to me, we also have more resources & if we're so GD exceptional we should be able to figure it out. That two-party system thingy is a big part of our problem, & money equals speech is another one.

Cheezoholic

(4,198 posts)
6. While the 2 party system may be a problem your second point is THE most important one IMO. We can address the
Tue Jul 7, 2026, 11:42 AM
4 hrs ago

others after we win but we need to win first. Arguing and fighting from a position of weakness, and make no mistake, we are without power and weak ATM, is futile and exactly how authoritarians work to divide opposition. Repukes would love nothing more than a 3rd party to rise right now. In fact, I believe they have been and are quietly organizing this possibility. They can only win 2 ways. Cheating and/or by diluting the opposition vote whether it be through a 3rd party or suppressing turnout. I will say it again. Even though they have been very good at covert politics and actual covert operational basics are widely known by most, they almost absolutely have the detailed Putin/KGB/FSR playbook in their hands. The most successful disinformation/misinformation organization in the modern age.
Respectfully

Cheezoholic

(4,198 posts)
7. Totally agre and its 1.5 now. And for what is what I don't get. We can't even sustain a war with a country like Iran,
Tue Jul 7, 2026, 11:50 AM
3 hrs ago

regardless that it is wrong. Christ, 30 days and we're out of missiles? Our sailors are plunging toilets while they're in combat? $10 billion Aircraft Carriers that are technically only operational for 6 months at a time before they need to come to port for service. These are just some of the things those of us without blinders see right? The only difference between us and Russia is we gave MIC oligarchs more money than they did. I see what happened in Iran as no different than when Russia's military was exposed after the Ukraine invasion.

MadameButterfly

(4,313 posts)
14. They also have high taxes and much smaller income gap
Tue Jul 7, 2026, 01:06 PM
2 hrs ago

Despite the high taxes, most people support the system because they spend their lives not having to worry about the basic or save massive amounts of money to cover health issues, education, old age, childcare, etc. The richest people get fewer mansions though.

Jilly_in_VA

(14,791 posts)
17. And when you pay taxes there
Tue Jul 7, 2026, 01:30 PM
2 hrs ago

You GET SOMETHING for them, instead og the money going to prop up something like Israel bombing Gaza, or going in the pockets of some billionaire!

chouchou

(3,468 posts)
19. Your words are very true !....and the wealthy don't get "To Skate" out of sharing wealth.
Tue Jul 7, 2026, 02:16 PM
1 hr ago

Their taxes go to the needed...

MadameButterfly

(4,313 posts)
15. That just means the far right doesn't get to blame
Tue Jul 7, 2026, 01:07 PM
2 hrs ago

people of color for everyone's problems. So you have to talk about the issues.

Jilly_in_VA

(14,791 posts)
18. Have you been there lately?
Tue Jul 7, 2026, 01:33 PM
2 hrs ago

I haven't, but my nephew has, and he was surprised at the number of racially mixed people and darker-complected immigrants there.

Soul_of_Wit

(219 posts)
11. Norway advantages vs. US advantages
Tue Jul 7, 2026, 12:25 PM
3 hrs ago

Norway spends oil revenues to the advantage of its people (it nationalized oil production in 1974.) Norway chooses to have high taxes and to spend those taxes on its people.

The US has great diversity in its population due to immigration. This produces enormous innovation (think foreign-born tech bros and scientists.) The largest economy in the history of the world is because of immigration. More people equals a larger economy.

Folks need to quit complaining about taxes and start complaining about how taxes are spent.

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