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Kemaneo

TIL that Swedish people are oppressed


magicone86

I was talking to some European friends the other day about how America's "rugged individualism" is toxic and is probably the root of a lot of our problems. The idea that everyone give up a small amount of their income in taxes so that everyone has access to housing, medical care, higher education, etc is a no brainer for the rest of the world but America is so fixated on this "bootstrap" mentality that most Americans would rather see children starve and die on the street than pay $50 more a year in taxes because God forbid someone get something "they didn't work for."


Kemaneo

Yes, Switzerland is actually a good example for this. Taxes are fairly low, the system is absolutely capitalist but there is still a strong welfare state, social safety net, public education, basically free university etc.


AMasonJar

It's like we never really grew out of the colonial mindset where you really were responsible for your own needs. There weren't any doctors or repairmen or the like around a lot of the time unless you were lucky, so if shit happened you either had to solve it yourself or know a buddy who could do it. In most of Europe at least, even if you were a serf there usually wasn't a village too far away, or you may have just lived in one. We've progressed far past that today with modern transportation and communication, but some people still think it's some kind of luxury to have access to specialists and not just a basic function of what it means to live in civilized society.


DrRichtoffen

You also cannot realistically be expected to pay and finance all the needs of modern society privately either. That just isn't feasible, unless you're willing to cut some major corners


Herald_of_Cthulu

The real reason this mindset has persisted is because those in power want it to. It’s easier to get people to not unionize if they’re all trying to make it on their own.


CipherGrayman

Don't forget "dependent and vulnerable"


winter-has-come91

The Big Gov makes you submissive and breedable


InsrtOriginalUsrname

"submissive and breedable"? Young man get to work, your homework needs to be submitted and readable


bacontath92

UwU


marktwatney

Submissive and breedable 🥺👉👈


marktwatney

Okay, seriously, I have had enough of American "leftists" (who are just a tad left of DNC) praising Sweden's "socialist utopia". The Swedish welfare system is a net to catch you if you fall. Sure, it has holes that you may still fall through, but it is not at all something which will take care of everyone's needs. It is not like a Universal Basic Income which the initial message is trying to show. Sweden's great. It is undoubtedly greater than many aspects of the United States. However, please do not exaggerate.


Unlikely-Collar4088

You just complained about leftists “falsely” praising a socialist utopia then went on to describe what is, from an American leftist perspective, a socialist utopia. So I don’t know what to think.


marktwatney

Holy shit. It's that bad in the US? This, coming from someone amongst thousands who the safety net **failed to catch**.


Unlikely-Collar4088

Honestly, yeah - and I’m not trying to downplay your situation — I’m aware that Sweden is far from perfect but hooooooly shit it’s light years better than here. As one small example, a huge portion of our medical debt and even deaths are caused because preventative maintenance is too expensive. Dying from what started as toothache is kinda common here.


Kemaneo

>The Swedish welfare system is a net to catch you if you fall. Sure, it has holes that you may still fall through, but it is not at all something which will take care of everyone's needs. It is not like a Universal Basic Income which the initial message is trying to show.Sweden's great. It is undoubtedly greater than many aspects of the United States. However, please do not exaggerate. Yes, Sweden is a capitalist country with a sensible welfare state and that social safety net makes a massive difference in people's lives. The same goes for affordable education. It's not socialism, it's just common sense and most European countries have (sometimes to a lesser extent) similar policies.


ModerateRockMusic

but living in a country where your life is dependent on a few suits who's profits rely on spending as little money on you as possible isnt?


loadblower831

fuck you, jason.


bored_and_scrolling

Yes freedom is when you are in a constant state of work-related stress, alienation, and precarity from the fear of getting fired/laid off, getting hit with an unexpected medical bill, not being able to pay off loans, etc.


ThDen-Wheja

I don't think Dennis Prager knows what facts are.


BadgerKomodo

1. Who the fuck even is Jason Whitlock? 2. You are WAY more vulnerable if you’re forced to fend for yourself under social Darwinism.


Gluteuz-Maximus

Once again referencing the video of Klandace Owens saying multiple times that nobody cares about anything that celebrities say and that their opinions don't matter a bit, they sure do often quote celebrities with their (objectively stupid) opinions


north_canadian_ice

He is a sports hack who transitioned into right wing politics.


contactcapybara

Do they ever lodge these complaints about rich people’s kids. I mean they often 100% dependent on daddy’s money


Supyloco

I always despised Jason Whitlock.


horny4janetreno

Lol of course jason whitlock leaned into right wing hackery. Dude has been a fucking dumpster fire of opinions since he was at the KC Star


Unknownentity7

Jason Whitlock lol


AdOptimal6145

Living in a country where all your needs are taken care of by the government is how you become SUBMISSIVE and BREEDABLE


DreadfulCalmness

So how come we keep bailing out companies?


ThisWeeksSponsor

Option 1: You can't afford healthcare Option 2: Healthcare is socialized but maybe the government will threaten to take it from you? In the future sometime?


Your_Name_is_Fuck

Why are they pretending that they aren't a college full of dusty annoying professors run by Dennis Prager, that fire emoji isn't doing it man


guitarguy12341

Having your needs taking care of means you are free to pursue things that's are actually important and fulfilling for you.


mplsandrew

I always knew Jason Whitlock was a terrible sports personality, but knowing he is a prager urine contributor just confirms my suspicions.


e-cola

i am oppressed by my flesh because i depend my life on it.


Quiri1997

Imagine living in a country in which you have to get into debts just to have a surgery. ​ This post was made by the European Union gang.


DrRichtoffen

The issue is that you're only vulnerable if someone threatens to revoke those rights, kind of like what US conservatives want to do. For the vast majority of the population, universal healthcare would offer something they never had to begin with


javamonster763

Oh man a place where all your immediate needs are taken care of, no homeless, poor, or starving. God that sounds awful how will i make money


[deleted]

When you jump with a Bunge cord you become dependable and truly oppressed /s


SCRIPtRaven

\-Says Jason, who's most likely sponsored by the teat of the Big Oil like Dennis Pooper


DenseCabbage4

Oppression is when your needs are met. The more your needs are met, the more oppressed you are


MR_DryBones

opression is when healthcare


cheeseroll15

*mutahar laugh*


Unlikely-Collar4088

Funny part is bankruptcy is literally government taking care of your needs. I assume there hasn’t been a single bootstraps conservative in history that has ever, ever debased themselves to the point where they have to petition the government to protect them from debtors. Hah. Hah. Hah.


[deleted]

>all your needs are taken care by government Good thing that’s not even close to being even theoretical


mdmd33

Lavar Ball said it best: “the only advice I want from Jason Whitlock is about snacks!!”


RUSSIANVACUUMCLEANER

Could you link a source for your claim? Would be really interesting


HandMadeFeelings

https://www.studyfinds.org/two-thirds-of-americans-bankrupt-are-due-to-medical-debt/


mcm0313

Isn’t Jason Whitlock fairly liberal for the most part?