Why don't we just let Sweden run the world? *light hearted*

[Soupforoneplease]

On nearly every topic there is a reference to 'the way enter Scandinavian country here do it is this, and it's brilliant!' So why don't we all just all agree to a central world government and let one of these brilliant countries run it and improve things everywhere.
I've been to Norway, Denmark, Sweden and Helsinki. Things generally are great there. Bit of alcoholism in Finland, but nothing too bad. Is it there size (relatively small population) that means they can govern so efficiently? Is it that the general population are more 'obedient' for lack of a better word? What is it?

Just trying to think of the big obvious reason YABU.
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They might seem left wing, liberal, mild mannered, sensible.... but they will suddenly revert back to their viking selves once they get a whiff of power and then you wont be able to move for longboats. Bad idea!

I don't think they are necessarily "more obedient". I think ( having known a few) that they are more likely to be team players who see the logic in behaving in a certain way.

Finland has the most effective education system in the world, so I'd vote for them.

They are all social democratic countries that have a hugh level of trust in their governments.

@apalledandshocked

They might seem left wing, liberal, mild mannered, sensible.... but they will suddenly revert back to their viking selves once they get a whiff of power and then you wont be able to move for longboats. Bad idea!

Christ this has given me much needed laugh this morning!

Look I am Swedish and I am a little bit alarmed at the idea even though I am guilty of the occasional “in Sweden we have a system” We have plenty of problems! But we’re not as mad as the Danes, nouveau rich as the Norwegians and depressed as the Finns of course so that’s in our favour 🤔

Look up janteloven... it is hard enough to find people to govern the country, let alone the world.

God no the horned helmet would really mess up my hairstyle😬

I'd hate the short daylight in the winter.

@banivani

Låt oss gå och fika!!! 😊☕🍰

@banivani

Look I am Swedish and I am a little bit alarmed at the idea even though I am guilty of the occasional “in Sweden we have a system” We have plenty of problems! But we’re not as mad as the Danes, nouveau rich as the Norwegians and depressed as the Finns of course so that’s in our favour 🤔

It's funny to hear you say that the norwegians are nouveau riche! their country does seem so wealthy!

I love the sound of swedish, it reminds me of people from Cork (in Ireland) and Danish sounds like Londoners, chop chop! but the sound of Norwegian people speaking their own language sounds like, oh dear. They sound like they're speaking swedish with a birmingham accent!

I have no knowledge of any of these countries but i just love the sound of the languages.

Struggling tbh, so far I've got
Baskets:- Scandis seem to love a basket, could cause global basket shortage.
Woad:- Do we still make woad? Is woad allergy safe? Do modern Vikings still want to be blue? Is it cultural appropriation and how do the Smurfs feel?

Can see this being a minefield.

[quote Lagomtransplant]@banivani

Låt oss gå och fika!!! 😊☕🍰[/quote]
If you only knew how much fika I consumed this weekend.

@Gucci1961 I'm also part Irish and AGHAST at the idea that Cork-ese sounds like Swedish! Don't you know it's "travellers speaking French".

We do love a basket tbf. That's a Scandinavian universal.

Have a read of “the Almost Nearly Perfect People”, gives a great insight and description of the dark, warty underbelly of the Nordic countries, as well as the happy sunny good bits. Really interesting read for scandi-philes, that life isn’t all roses over the North Sea.

Love how Sweden handled the corona (could have done better protecting care homes tho)

Doesn't Finland have the highest suicide rate in the world?

@UsedUpUsername

Love how Sweden handled the corona (could have done better protecting care homes tho)

What? Not even Sweden likes how they handled things!

Great idea, OP!

Sweden because they gave the world ABBA and Ikea.

Norway - they have used their oil wealth wisely.

Denmark - gave us the exquisite Saga Noren.

@UsedUpUsername

Sweden didn't handle it exactly, as what is called social distancing here is just normal behaviour there: being very private, huge emphasis on personal space, not very physically expressive, etc. Even the masks help with the cold!

I'm now laughing out loud at Norwegians sounding like they speak Swedish with a Birmingham accent. Totally agree!

Scandinavians generally have a stronger sense of collaboration and doing things for the common good, there's an acceptance that in order for society to function well everyone needs to contribute.

Plus most information is public, comparatively low levels of confidentiality and secrecy whichvis why corruption is so low

@Onedaysomedaynowadays

Doesn't Finland have the highest suicide rate in the world?

No. Had a high suicide rate in the 90s when going through a major recession and that association has stuck. Still above average but nowhere near as bad as it was.

Saga Noren is Swedish.

And let's not forget Spotify, Klarna, Oatly, Minecraft and a fair proportion of pop songs in the past 20 years. Swedes also usually claim the wrench, the zipper and of course temperature through mr Anders Celsius

I know it's light hearted but it really wouldn't work just from a cultural point of view I think. They have some of the lowest levels of corruption, trust in their government, more of a community vibe (imagine having shared laundry rooms in the UK and one big boiler for a block of flats!) - if you just applied that blanket approach everywhere where people don't have the same beliefs I think the system would be super ripe for people taking advantage/the piss!

Oatley and IKEA alone swing it for me

Saga Noren is Swedish

Oh god yes all that to-ing and fro-ing over that bridge, I never knew who was where!