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Sweden has always had a strong belief about 'self-responsibility' whereas in a lot of other European Countries it's more a nanny state where people expect the government to instruction them to the smallest detail on everything.
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Sweden going it alone on 12:52 - Mar 29 with 1979 views
Sweden going it alone on 12:41 - Mar 29 by BloomBlue
Sweden has always had a strong belief about 'self-responsibility' whereas in a lot of other European Countries it's more a nanny state where people expect the government to instruction them to the smallest detail on everything.
"They break our legs and tell us to be grateful when they offer us crutches."
Sweden going it alone on 12:41 - Mar 29 by BloomBlue
Sweden has always had a strong belief about 'self-responsibility' whereas in a lot of other European Countries it's more a nanny state where people expect the government to instruction them to the smallest detail on everything.
As I've said before, the problem with the UK is that people tend to like strong government and hate the nanny state - but they also very much don't like being told what to do - which is what strong governments as well as nanny states are very good at. So sometimes they'll agree with the Govt telling them what to do, eg, now (as a consequence of "strong" government)- and other times say I'm not being told what to do by this nanny state.
This bipolar existential dilemma is what drives the behaviour of the UK population IMHO, and most people can't see their way through the contradictions thus generated.
The UK has a very strong belief about "self-responsibility" but that manifests itself in very contradictory ways - in Sweden, they see self-responsibility is benefit to society, in the UK, we see self responsibility as benefit to ourselves......
Just one small problem; sell their houses to who, Ben? Fcking Aquaman?
Sweden going it alone on 13:07 - Mar 29 by Ewan_Oozami
As I've said before, the problem with the UK is that people tend to like strong government and hate the nanny state - but they also very much don't like being told what to do - which is what strong governments as well as nanny states are very good at. So sometimes they'll agree with the Govt telling them what to do, eg, now (as a consequence of "strong" government)- and other times say I'm not being told what to do by this nanny state.
This bipolar existential dilemma is what drives the behaviour of the UK population IMHO, and most people can't see their way through the contradictions thus generated.
The UK has a very strong belief about "self-responsibility" but that manifests itself in very contradictory ways - in Sweden, they see self-responsibility is benefit to society, in the UK, we see self responsibility as benefit to ourselves......
"The UK has a very strong belief about "self-responsibility" but that manifests itself in very contradictory ways - in Sweden, they see self-responsibility is benefit to society, in the UK, we see self responsibility as benefit to ourselves......"
Unfortunately, that is very true. In the UK's defence the mantra of personal freedom and the notion of responsibility to the self have utterly dominated politics and social discourse for the best part of 40 years.
Pronouns: He/Him
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Sweden going it alone on 13:17 - Mar 29 with 1897 views
Sweden going it alone on 13:07 - Mar 29 by Ewan_Oozami
As I've said before, the problem with the UK is that people tend to like strong government and hate the nanny state - but they also very much don't like being told what to do - which is what strong governments as well as nanny states are very good at. So sometimes they'll agree with the Govt telling them what to do, eg, now (as a consequence of "strong" government)- and other times say I'm not being told what to do by this nanny state.
This bipolar existential dilemma is what drives the behaviour of the UK population IMHO, and most people can't see their way through the contradictions thus generated.
The UK has a very strong belief about "self-responsibility" but that manifests itself in very contradictory ways - in Sweden, they see self-responsibility is benefit to society, in the UK, we see self responsibility as benefit to ourselves......
Bingo. Massive difference between self responsibility for a collective gain and self preservation.
I sincerely hope it works and that the rest of the world has just gone overboard. I’m not all that confident but maybe Swedes are actually able to take self responsibility.
God I wish I lived there now!
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Sweden going it alone on 13:54 - Mar 29 with 1817 views
I sincerely hope it works and that the rest of the world has just gone overboard. I’m not all that confident but maybe Swedes are actually able to take self responsibility.
God I wish I lived there now!
Yes to all that!
Has anyone ever looked at their own postings for last day or so? Oh my... so sorry. Was Ullaa
Sweden going it alone on 13:07 - Mar 29 by Ewan_Oozami
As I've said before, the problem with the UK is that people tend to like strong government and hate the nanny state - but they also very much don't like being told what to do - which is what strong governments as well as nanny states are very good at. So sometimes they'll agree with the Govt telling them what to do, eg, now (as a consequence of "strong" government)- and other times say I'm not being told what to do by this nanny state.
This bipolar existential dilemma is what drives the behaviour of the UK population IMHO, and most people can't see their way through the contradictions thus generated.
The UK has a very strong belief about "self-responsibility" but that manifests itself in very contradictory ways - in Sweden, they see self-responsibility is benefit to society, in the UK, we see self responsibility as benefit to ourselves......
Same here in Norway. We have a word 'dugnad' which means unpaid work for the good of the community. Just about everyone here does some dugnad from time to time, be it residents of a block of flats cleaning communal areas, to parents selling coffee and waffles at kids sporting events, to raise money so that the less well off family's kids can take part. It is just a thing, nobody complains about having to do dugnad.
Having said that, the death toll from Covid 19, in Sweden, is much higher than here. Norwegians are criticising them for their lack of action.
Article in the Sunday Times feels they might regret it.
Assumption is to make an ass out of you and me.
Those who assume they know you, when they don't are just guessing.
Those who assume and insist they know are daft and in denial.
Those who assume, insist, and deny the truth are plain stupid.
Those who assume, insist, deny the truth and tell YOU they know you (when they don't) have an IQ in the range of 35-49.
I sincerely hope it works and that the rest of the world has just gone overboard. I’m not all that confident but maybe Swedes are actually able to take self responsibility.
God I wish I lived there now!
It's definitely a brave thing to do. There must be enormous pressure to conform with the rest of Europe. But then again, the rest of Europe is basing their strategy on figures coming from China. Which are undoubtedly massaged.
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Sweden going it alone on 15:36 - Mar 29 with 1609 views
Sweden going it alone on 14:32 - Mar 29 by NotSure
It's definitely a brave thing to do. There must be enormous pressure to conform with the rest of Europe. But then again, the rest of Europe is basing their strategy on figures coming from China. Which are undoubtedly massaged.
If it becomes endemic in Sweden and everyone else has manged to avoid that, then they could become international pariahs afterwards, cut off from normal contact, lest they become the source of a new infection.
Sweden going it alone on 15:36 - Mar 29 by Guthrum
If it becomes endemic in Sweden and everyone else has manged to avoid that, then they could become international pariahs afterwards, cut off from normal contact, lest they become the source of a new infection.
That makes no sense. The whole world will have coronavirus until there's a vaccine. And even then it will still exist.
This is a good article that gives balance to what Sweden is doing when put against the strategy of a blanket lockdown. Lockdown is really needed to relieve the pressure temporarily and stop health resources being swamped, particularly in larger cities. But the overall spread can't be contained for any length of time.
Sweden going it alone on 12:41 - Mar 29 by BloomBlue
Sweden has always had a strong belief about 'self-responsibility' whereas in a lot of other European Countries it's more a nanny state where people expect the government to instruction them to the smallest detail on everything.
Alternatively, as the article says, "There is a high level of trust in public authorities in Sweden, which many believe is driving locals to adhere to voluntary guidelines."
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Sweden going it alone on 15:52 - Mar 29 with 1528 views
Sweden going it alone on 13:07 - Mar 29 by Ewan_Oozami
As I've said before, the problem with the UK is that people tend to like strong government and hate the nanny state - but they also very much don't like being told what to do - which is what strong governments as well as nanny states are very good at. So sometimes they'll agree with the Govt telling them what to do, eg, now (as a consequence of "strong" government)- and other times say I'm not being told what to do by this nanny state.
This bipolar existential dilemma is what drives the behaviour of the UK population IMHO, and most people can't see their way through the contradictions thus generated.
The UK has a very strong belief about "self-responsibility" but that manifests itself in very contradictory ways - in Sweden, they see self-responsibility is benefit to society, in the UK, we see self responsibility as benefit to ourselves......
Sweden going it alone on 12:06 - Mar 29 by Ewan_Oozami
Wow!
"In contrast to the multi-generational homes in Mediterranean countries, more than half of Swedish households are made up of one person"
That's a lot do do with it. And they can generally trust their citizens to not be utter planks. Still a brave move, but they are testing and tracing more than us relatively.