Denmark's PM says Sanders is wrong to call his country socialist. Do you agree?

SrA Art Siatkowsky — Mon, 02 Nov 2015 04:45:54 -0500

Here is the link unless RP redoes my post again...

Bernie Sanders has long referred to himself as a socialist rather than a member of the Democratic Party, which has naturally led to a lot of questions about what socialism means to him. He consistently references the social models of the Nordic states — especially Denmark — as his idea of what democratic socialism is all about. But in a speech Friday evening at Harvard's Kennedy School of Government, Danish Prime Minister Lars Løkke Rasmussen said that while he's flattered to see Denmark discussed in a widely watched US presidential debate he doesn't think the socialist shoe fits.

"I know that some people in the US associate the Nordic model with some sort of socialism," he said. "Therefore, I would like to make one thing clear. Denmark is far from a socialist planned economy. Denmark is a market economy."

In Rasmussen's view, "The Nordic model is an expanded welfare state which provides a high level of security to its citizens, but it is also a successful market economy with much freedom to pursue your dreams and live your life as you wish."

This is not especially different, as a substantive matter, from what Sanders is saying. His platform calls for higher taxes, a lot more social welfare spending, but — with the important exception of health insurance — not the nationalization of whole industries. And Denmark has, as Rasmussen goes on to say a bit later in the talk, exactly the kind of single-payer health system that Sanders favors. But in Rasmussen's view, this doesn't amount to socialism at all.

Another interesting point the prime minister raises is that the level of disagreement between the main Danish political parties simply isn't all that high. He leads a right-of-center party, but he says that four years ago when he visited a US political convention he went to the Democratic convention, and so did his main opponent on the center left.

Denmark's prime minister says Bernie Sanders is wrong to call his country socialist

"Denmark is a market economy."

Response by SrA Art Siatkowsky made Nov 2 at 2015 4:46 AM

SrA Art Siatkowsky — Mon, 02 Nov 2015 04:46:15 -0500

wish i could edit....

Response by PO1 John Miller made Nov 2 at 2015 4:54 AM

PO1 John Miller — Mon, 02 Nov 2015 04:54:33 -0500

Just because Denmark's Prime Minister says his country isn't socialist, doesn't mean it's true!

Response by PO3 Private RallyPoint Member made Nov 2 at 2015 7:12 AM

PO3 Private RallyPoint Member — Mon, 02 Nov 2015 07:12:16 -0500

Denmark had turn away from socialism for the past few years, doesn't mean they are not socialist. It just mean they are experiencing a change of heart, and that is still playing ... we don't know what they will really become.

In the true context of this topic, Yes, Bernie is wrong. Even Socialist in Denmark realize the socialism policy they have is not good, so they started to back away.

Response by CW2 Private RallyPoint Member made Nov 2 at 2015 7:33 AM

CW2 Private RallyPoint Member — Mon, 02 Nov 2015 07:33:06 -0500

closer to dhimmitude right now

Response by CPT Jack Durish made Nov 2 at 2015 11:08 AM

CPT Jack Durish — Mon, 02 Nov 2015 11:08:47 -0500

To be honest, I don't know what form of government Denmark has. Maybe Sanders, like me, assumed that it was a socialist democracy because of all the welfare state stuff going on. Dear God, did I just equate myself with Bernie Sanders? I need a bath.

However, I must wonder just how free markets can exist in a welfare state. Welfare is anything but free. It requires that the state pilfer from productive citizens for the benefit of nonproductive citizens. I can't imagine how this is accomplished without skewing the supply and demand equations that drive prices and availability of goods and services.

Thus I'm left in a perplexing situation. Is the Prime Minister of Denmark confused about the nature of his own nation's economy or is it Bernie and I who are confused.

Damn, there I go again. I need another bath...

Response by COL Ted Mc made Nov 2 at 2015 3:30 PM

COL Ted Mc — Mon, 02 Nov 2015 15:30:05 -0500

SrA Art Siatkowsky - Airman; That would really depend on your definition of the term "socialist".