Our current struggle between the ‘haves’ and ‘have-nots’ for control of our government is nothing new. Sweden and Norway both experienced a major power shift in the 1930s after prolonged nonviolent struggle. Eventually they “fired” the top 1 percent of people who set the direction for society and created the basis for something different.
Both countries had a history of horrendous poverty. When the 1 percent was in charge, hundreds of thousands of people emigrated to avoid starvation. Under the leadership of the working class, however, both countries built robust and successful economies that nearly eliminated poverty, expanded free university education, abolished slums, provided excellent health care available to all as a matter of right and created a system of full employment. Unlike the Norwegians, the Swedes didn’t find oil, but that didn’t stop them from building what the latest CIA World Factbook calls “an enviable standard of living.”
Unfortunately Sweden is what Republicans call a “socialist” country because of their tax structure, so life there can’t be all that good, right? So why am I wondering if they’d like to offer us some help in finding a new direction for the new country we so desperately need? Maybe Miss Norway would be willing to work closely with me for a few months.
Of course, Miss Sweden will do…
Sources: Common Dreams
