18th June 2008 - The Day Democracy Died In Sweden

[Zyn]

I am ashamed to live in this fucked up country: http://www.thelocal.se/12534/20080618/

Since the non-socialist party Moderaterna came to power, this place has gone down the shitter. Rich people richer, poor people poorer, rip away benefits for people who are unemployed, "if you have no job, you should not get any money anyway" which has turned Sweden into a welfare society. Higher taxes for people with little money, lower taxes for rich people, and the promised removal of the real estate tax never happened, it got raised instead.

And now came this surveillance law which was originally started by Thomas Bodström, in the Socialist Democrats party, who lost power almost 2 years ago. And yesterday the voting was held about this law, and the majority voted for it. Right in that moment, the rage of millions was heard throughout Sweden, and it became apparent that the government doesn't give a shit about its people. How can a law, that is a major threat to the personal integrity, possibly make politicians think it's a good idea? Oh yeah, they used the magic keyword: TERRORISM! Fuck yes! Woooh! Foreign threats! Yehaw!

"1984" just got real...

[MeleeMe?]

Welcome to America. Enjoy your stay.

[Koobazaur]

fuckeduppery

do you think they're watching us now

[Maxey]

Lol, are you guys trying to compete with Portugal?

[Azevedo]

"if you have no job, you should not get any money anyway" which has turned Sweden into a welfare society.

Does not follow.

[Burris]

Welfare society seems to me to be a pretty bad thing. When your government has to look after people who sometimes simply don't want to work, it's a major burden on economic progress...

[Cheeto]

Welfare society seems to me to be a pretty bad thing. When your government has to look after people who sometimes simply don't want to work, it's a major burden on economic progress...

The trick is: How does a bureaucracy determine the difference between someone lazy, someone handicapped, and someone just having bad luck?

[Penguin]

A lot of people would say to remove "bad luck" from the equation.

[Latzen]

Okay.

3% Income tax on 950,000 per annum = 28,500

11% Income tax on 40,000 per annum = 4,400

"The Rich Pay Less Tax!!!!"

Fuck off. Some tax DODGERS actually pay a smaller dollar figure, which is illegal. But most wealthy people shell out a higher fraction of the total.

Most of the arguments that the rich should pay higher percentages arise from envy.

That's the US. Maybe Sweden's different (and the numbers used here are totally pulled out of my ass).

You're just hearing it here because I've run into a large number of asshats lately that advocate taking 30 and 40% of people's wealth. I can understand being pissed that you're only making 20k, but why does that seem to translate into this attitude that people aren't entitled to the money they make if they make > XXX,XXX?

Whatever. I'm really fucking tired.

[Stephenson]

I thought democracy died in Sweden when the M/S Estonia cover up happened.