Anna LoSecco
Rackarbergsgatan 34-433
752 32 Uppsala
Sweden
DIE-HARD CAPITALISTS, STOP HERE. You will not like this entry and I'll probably offend you.
After two nights consisting solely of conversations with strangers, I'm a different person. I've discussed Capitalism with Swedes, World War II with Germans, drinking with Australians, and had the pleasure of explaining what "grinding" is to a group of Europeans. I've learned bits of history that have been completely glossed over in American classrooms. And, as dramatic as it may sound, it's like I'm finally emerging from a life underwater and breathing in my first breath of air. Swedes don't love the label "socialists" (and it does seem a little...harsh. Sweden practices more of a soft socialism, if that makes any sense), but this American feels like falling to her knees and crying for joy after learning a little more about the Swedish economy and government. Taxes are high, but so is everything else. Education, healthcare, and safety are among the best in the world, and Swedes are placed as some of the most trusting people in the world. While Americans see a bleak humankind, full of inescapable corruption and greed (perhaps a generalization, but I'm sure you can see the grain of truth in there), Swedes have grown accustomed to...believing in the best. Upon arriving, I asked my roommate whether they wanted me to label my food or keep it in my room. He looked at me and laughed.
"You don't need to label it, we trust each other."
Religion plays almost no role in their politics. In fact, the one party that has the word "Christian" in their name has made a point to explain that their affiliation doesn't extend past the name, and that they are not associated with any specific religion. In contrast to the I-go-to-church-every-Sunday politicians in my own country, it's refreshing. I feel like a lot of Americans base their vote on religious affiliation, which annoys me more than I can possible fit into this paragraph. Politicians here are elected based on merit, and you are often voting more for the party than the specific leader. Proportional representation allows even the tiniest voice to be heard, which allows for a greater variety of views in the government.
I know that I'm representing my country here, and I'm trying to keep an open mind and keep my disdain towards my home country in check. But part of the reason I wanted to study abroad was to escape the American mindsets and experience political views from another point of view (a TRUE other point of view. Not the hypothetical or condescending examples my American classes have provided.)
And I'm in love with Swedish politics. Every time I learn something more about the government, I feel like jumping up and screaming "Yes! THIS is what works! THIS is right!" Everyone is entitled to an opinion, and anyone is welcome to challenge mine. But I can almost assure you that, after 15 years in American public schools, after 21 years as a Jew living in a Christian nation, after the frustration of arguing day in and day out with my conservative high school history class about whether or not bloodshed was a necessary step of progress ("There is no other way, Anna. Think about it."), I'm seeing a new way of looking at things. And, despite the fearful, weak American claims, capitalism is A way of doing things. Not THE way.
You are incredibly intelligent and wonderful. I wish I could be there experiencing all that you are. I love you to pieces dear. Keep living it up and having an amazing time over there.
ReplyDeletewhile i agree with your points. I dont see swedish socialist system being able to ever take hold in america, without drastic changes in the political trend the country is following. The beauty of the Swedish system is the efficiency. As you've seen everything is smaller there, from the food to the population. As a result the ideals of the Swedes are much more homogeneous than the drastically split American populace. Its this schism in our country that causes nothing to be done. Its this schism that makes our country so inefficient, and its this schism that leads to the incredible frustration of members of the populace like you. The only way for our system to get better is an increase in power to the state, meaning increased state taxes. Rather than working on a national healthcare plan for Americans. Each state should care about a state-wide healthcare plan. While the individual decisions of each state might not feel right to you or to members of other states, the voices of everyone in each state will be heard. The majority in each state will be in control, and there will no longer be frustration in the populace. Then informed and intelligent people such as yourself and your audience will be able to form systems that work, because like Sweden, it will be smaller and more efficient.
ReplyDeletejosh, i know it wouldn't work in modern america, i'm more frustrated with how many americans evaluate other systems of government and ways of living. just because socialism wouldn't work in a larger nation doesn't mean it's "wrong" (actual word used in one of my classes last semester). we're americans, not gods. oh oh, this is what you were saying a few weeks ago about a confederation! i always think proportional representation should be the preferred voting system (i really am at the end of my fuse with bipartisanship. our inner bickering is absurd when you think about what could be done with the strongest world power in the world if we just worked together.), so i like the idea that a large nation should be divided up to effectively implement such a system. i also, maybe naively, believe that americans with differing views will cooperate better if they're able to express opinions that lie on the spectrum, does that make sense? i'm a democrat, but i'm a radical liberal. my parents are democrats, but they're moderates. there are huge, unrepresented gaps in america that ARE represented in sweden.
ReplyDeletemike, i love you too! let's please catch up soon? my skype name is anna.losecco
thanks for responding!
I agree and also learned while I was in Sweden, that they have a thinking and engaged population. People have opinions based on history and a genuine insight into how things work there and other places. But I also know that there is another level to their awareness and feelings about there own government. The longer you're there, the more you'll sense the fine points of their own dissatisfaction with their own system as well. It's smarter, our party system sucks and is obsolete and incompetant, but it's not Nirvana. Close but no cigar.
ReplyDelete