[Icarus]

(05-25-2012 04:04 PM)Vicious Wrote:  

You seem to have missed the point. Spain is on the extreme side of the family as a unity. Just about everyone else is going to come short in comparison.

What exact point have I missed? Aren't we trying to contrast North with South Europe? If so, it does make sense to pick the characteristics in which North and South differ. So, respectfully, what is your point after all?

I do not think it is too far-fetched to claim that present societies reflect their past. Given the past, it makes sense that Sweden is tribe-oriented and collectivist (the harsher weather is unforgiving), whereas Spain is more family-oriented and family-focused. If you believe in evolution, then it makes sense that a people's customs reflect the environment to which they are adapted. Hence, it is naive to expect a Swede and a Spaniard to have similar values and ways of thinking. And it is foolish to assume that just because the welfare state kind of functions in Sweden, then it can function elsewhere.

[kosko]

I would say on both ends of the spectrum delusion runs high. In Denmark you have a rosed view of a artificial world which is phony but exists within the constructs created by society and government. In these places it's culturally awkward to see or admit anything as not happy or ideal. BUT. In America this delusion also exists on the opposite end. Everybody in America sees then selves as a lone wolf whom carves it out on their own when the country has robust safety bets and Govt protections in place - moreso then the majority of countries in this earth. You do not starve in America or any other OECD nation. Go to China where you literally die if you fall into a bad rut, this is not the case in America regardless of how much movies and propaganda tells you it is.

Canada's issue is not our welfare state it's the issue if how ineffective and unproductive Canadians are. Social assistance is shamed here in Canada and the rebate and tax culture is more rampant in America then here i find. Our economy is just awkward and people just do not seek oppurtunity on their own. Jobs are had here by knowing somebody or scoring a public sector gig. Skills mean little here and there is little financial advantage in seeking and marketing new inventions and products or attaining the upmost education. Tariffs and treaties with America make it to expensive and little to know investment capital exists to foster and prop up ideas and start ups.

Canada could easily be the wealthiest nation on earth with a highly developed and educated bilingual and multicultural work force. Perfect. But of course we goofed it up in typical Canadian fashion (where happy with 2nd or 3rd place).

In the end Canada has always been motherd. We escaped Colonialism with out a drop of blood loss, we have had ethnic strife that has not boiled over to teach Canadians about the issues and differences both sides face - the French and English remain largely ignorant to each other. We have have bitter regionalism that Boggs down our economy. Everybody has to get a slice but the Country fails to leverage assets in each region due to political fallout. And lastly Canada reached its "apex" during easily the worst time one could do so - the oil shocks of the 70's nurtured our economic might and by the end of the 80's we were sold off for scrap to the Americans by Mullroony.

In Canada you get a A effort. Winning is just a plus. In other parts of the earth your a write off unless you raise the bar or reach the top.

Laurier and Trudeau are rolling in their graves.