Norwegian healthcare system

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Originally Posted by boutons_deux

The Dutch did a similar thing when they were pumping a lot more gas out of the North Sea.

Both countries took their gift of a common-good, natural resource wealth and distributed its benefits to the general populace. Dutch and Norwegian resource extractors have also done very well.

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:lmao

Their gift of a common-good? Finders keepers, make a profit while the losers fuckin weep. If you don't like it - move to Europe because here in America we reward explorations and discovery. If finding oil or gas was so easy, don't you think everyone would be doing it? Yea, they would, so stop hating on the businesses that provide you with energy.

Unless you live in a cabin and burn your own shit for fuel...then you're allowed to have a different opinion.

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Originally Posted by Wild Cobra

Well, Alaska splits oil profits with their citizens without being socialists!

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http://www.spurstalk.com/forums/pict...pictureid=1316

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Originally Posted by greyforest

Now's the time for this graph, per capita healthcare spending

http://www.cardi.ie/userfiles/GRAPH_EXPENDITURE.jpg

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So the U.S.'s PUBLIC per capita expenditure on healthcare is THIRD in the world? What are you liberals so upset about?

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Originally Posted by Wild Cobra

Well, Alaska splits oil profits with their citizens without being socialists!

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:lmao

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Originally Posted by Wild Cobra

Well, Alaska splits oil profits with their citizens without being socialists!

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Originally Posted by 101A

So the U.S.'s PUBLIC per capita expenditure on healthcare is THIRD in the world? What are you liberals so upset about?

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So many facepalms, so little time....

I'm 99% sure 101 was just missing the blue font.

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Originally Posted by MannyIsGod

I'm 99% sure 101 was just missing the blue font.

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You're right. I thought it was WC again at first.

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Originally Posted by RandomGuy

Norway
Population: 5,000,000
Sovereign Wealth Fund assets: $443,000,000,000

443,000,000,000/5,000,000 = $88,600 @


They took their oil/gas royalties from their considerable coastline (North Sea oil and gas) and pooled it into a very conservatively managed investment fund.

They use a certain amount of interest from this pool to partially fund their government, and provide silly socialist things like parental leave, free college, and national health care.

Gimmie that socialism any day.

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Saving money instead of spending it, and one day ending up with a nice revenue stream to enjoy looks more like fiscal conservatism to me than socialism. But whatever you call it, I'd take it.

Looking at that system and seeing fiscal conservatism require one hell of a pair of rose colored glasses. Deficit spending is something that the great conservative Jesus started.

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Originally Posted by MannyIsGod

Looking at that system and seeing fiscal conservatism require one hell of a pair of rose colored glasses. Deficit spending is something that the great conservative Jesus started.

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Don't confuse classical conservatism with the contemporary GOP. Aint the same thang.

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Originally Posted by MannyIsGod

Looking at that system and seeing fiscal conservatism require one hell of a pair of rose colored glasses. Deficit spending is something that the great conservative Jesus started.

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fiscal conservatism and political conservatism aren't the same thing.

@Teysha

No doubt, but even classic conservationism doesn't cover what Norway did. I was more taking offense that socialism is somehow against being financially smart. Socialism merely provides that the government does more for society. It in no way imagines that it should be paid for by a giant ponzi scheme.

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Originally Posted by coyotes_geek

fiscal conservatism and political conservatism aren't the same thing.

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Well, actually they are because fiscal conservatism is a form of political conservatism. Its a political term by nature. I just completely disagree that with the notion that socialism is inherently at odds with being fiscally responsible.

In fact, Norway is a great example of how aspects of socialism are great for the long term fiscal health of a nation.

Its merely a semantics argument but I think its an important one considering how demonized the word socialism is in this country.

Fair points. Definining those "-isms" gets hard. As far as I'm concerned "financially smart" is sufficient to get my support, regardless of what -isms people want to attach.

Texas actually does this very thing with the Permament University Fund that gives the A&M and U.T. systems a good portion of their funding.

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Originally Posted by coyotes_geek

Saving money instead of spending it, and one day ending up with a nice revenue stream to enjoy looks more like fiscal conservatism to me than socialism. But whatever you call it, I'd take it.

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It is governemnt ownership of private assets through the vehicle of their investment fund.

Frought with a bit of moral hazard, I would guess.

A family physician has training in pediatrics and it is nice to have one physician take care of the entire family.

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Originally Posted by MannyIsGod

Its merely a semantics argument but I think its an important one considering how demonized the word socialism is in this country.

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That's why I have begun reveling in the word.

It is enormously fun to push some people's buttons and advocate socialism.

Speaking of which, time to have beer with my libertarian/conservative christian buddies. whoot.

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Originally Posted by RandomGuy

Norway
Population: 5,000,000
Sovereign Wealth Fund assets: $443,000,000,000

443,000,000,000/5,000,000 = $88,600 @


They took their oil/gas royalties from their considerable coastline (North Sea oil and gas) and pooled it into a very conservatively managed investment fund.

They use a certain amount of interest from this pool to partially fund their government, and provide silly socialist things like parental leave, free college, and national health care.

Gimmie that socialism any day.

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Except you oppose oil/gas development on our considerable coastline.

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Originally Posted by SnakeBoy

Except you oppose oil/gas development on our considerable coastline.

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where does that oil go?

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Originally Posted by Wild Cobra

Their mean income tax rate is about 30% higher than the US, and corporate tax rates only about 75% of what ours are.

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If I would get what I pay for, I would take that. If I do not get what I pay for, I would not take it (read, live there). However, it is my understanding that people here in the US have often not gotten what they paid for, and while not in the form of a tax, they get that 30% taken away right from their paychecks anyways...

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Originally Posted by 101A

So the U.S.'s PUBLIC per capita expenditure on healthcare is THIRD in the world? What are you liberals so upset about?

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Probably lack of centralization, collaboration, and general availability of care, particularly when people are also buying private care.

IMHO our country is just too big and spread out to compare our situation to some small European country, that probably doesn't spend as much per capita on their defense budget...

Why would someone move form Norway to the US?


The OP sounds like a true story, btw. :rolleyes

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Originally Posted by clambake

where does that oil go?

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Good question. Where does Norway's oil go?

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Originally Posted by TeyshaBlue

Good question. Where does Norway's oil go?

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in the hot tub, silly.