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?

@Catflapkitkat

I moved from London to rural Sweden six years and would gnaw my right arm off to move back. Outside of the big cities Sweden is a forgotten and neglected series of dying villages.

Not long after I arrived, I described it as being like a former communist state, and other foreigners have said the same thing. Even my Swedish friend who lived in former communist state. There is a national pride and international image that is hugely important to the Swedes but it is far from an ideal.

That's very sad to read. I always imagined that Sweden was well-off generally, whether in villages or cities. Has all the investment gone to cities (like here in England?)

Saga Norén is Swedish! :O the whole series is Swedish!

I had colleagues that managed to watch the first series without even realizing they were speaking two different languages!

@Amrapaali
(don't think they have rampaged around the world colonizing hapless peoples)

Emm- Vikings?

God no the horned helmet would really mess up my hairstyle

Viking helmets did not have horns. Viking helmets did not have horns. Viking helmets did not have horns.

Apologies for the repetition but my 12 year old DD would be very annoyed with me if I didn't clear up this misconception. It is one of her soapbox issues.

@Amrapaali Also struggling to think of Big Ideas

We are very very small countries and try our best, but you can look up our Nobel prize winners if you care .

But down to earth things could be

Edvard Munch - The Scream
Out of Africa - Karen Blixen
LEGO
Most modern 'fancy' furniture and design has a Scandi base (eg Arne Jacobsen)
Pippi Longstocking (girl power)
Bofors (probably never heard of them) but sweedish and has produced and exported weapons for a long long time, Gripen produces fighter planes.
Cross country skiing, go Sweden and Norway

D-oh!! 🤦‍♀️ how did I miss out Vikings??

Sweden collaborated with the Nazis

www.theguardian.com/commentisfree/2019/may/14/sweden-far-right-wartime-past

Oh gawd Bofors!! That is a blast from the past...

A Bofors arms deal tainted one of our Prime Ministers (Rajiv Gandhi) the scandal went on for years and years

Good list though

As embarrassing as it is, have you heard about Greenland? Denmark had colonies in the west indies, too (I'm ashamed to say).

Oh I forgot the colonies!

I'm Norwegian and I've lived in the UK for 10 years now (where's the time gone!).

I didnt know so many people dont like how Norwegian sounds?! ashamed

But to answer the question, to work here it would need a whole cultural shift which I'm not sure would work. There is a sense of trusting the government and thinking 'these are the people I have chosen to take forward what I believe is important'. Here I feel as if no matter who is in pover no one likes them. Theres also the issue of social divide here whereas in Scandi countries you dont have that. I think for it to work you have to believe that the people in power are looking out for you and that you have faith in them.

On taxes, I dont think it's in issue for most my family and friends. Taxes go to hospitals, dentists, schools, heavily subsidies nurseries, even university is free. So you see where tax money is going.

Norway has a great pension fund (I'm still sad I'm going to miss out on it!)

Sweden have one amazing invention/shop after another.

Denmark has the best interior design.

I'd move back to Norway if I could today, but unfortunately cant as my partner has children here.
I do think it's very hard from non Scandies to move to a Scandinavian country. We're very shy people who keep to ourselves. There isnt a pub/restaurant culture and we tend to just get on with work when we're at work so unless you already know people making friends is not easy. Also the winters are looong and cold!

Norwegian sounds lovely and bouncy, and most importantly is understandable, which is why it's not Danish with a Welsh accent (although it's a good descriptor) because Danish is incomprehensible

Can't speak that much for the other Scandinavian countries but Sweden very much sometimes talks the talk without walking the walk, for example talks feminism but has very few women in leading positions and women who have spoken out during metoo have been slapped with defamation suits (state-sanctioned!). There is a seedy tendency of closing ranks, excluding and refusing to change.

Waterloo would, of course, be our new national anthem.

Brits are too fat and sedentary to be more Scandi.

I’m living in Copenhagen at the moment— the fact is scandis like a party but they like order and will adhere to rules. They pay high tax and expect good services (which in the main they are) —- its a bit like a giant Waitrose with a few spots of grittiness mixed in. Eating out and drinking out is expensive but wages are much higher in most jobs- lovely playgrounds and nurseries are everywhere if city based — very child centred, but the big difference is the role men seem to have in family life— they seem much more involved due to shorter working days. You see men everywhere with kids and bikes and buggies, personally I think most middle class women in the UK would love it apart from the expense and most British men would hate it— far more is expected of them

Many British men would also hate the fact they are expected to play by the rules— first whiff of corruption or ovetclaiming on expenses or any dishonest practices and you are out .

They are quite sparsely populated, as countries, which doesn’t apply to the U.K.

I like the thought of Abba as national anthems, though!

In Copenhagen I think there’s a lot more sun too— not warmer at all- but less rain, more sun . The dark night thing— even at its peak it’s 3.35pm in mid December here — not so different to uk ‘up north’ and reverse is true from April onwards- lighter much later

For a local's view of the various Scandinavian countries (personified), I do like satwcomic.com/the-world

I am told, by a Finn, that while they always obey their laws when they know about them, they are also very expert in finding ways to avoid knowing about them, and in finding ways round them. So for instance you are not allowed to smoke in the building nor on any of the seats near its entrance, but your Finn will be smoking as he sits on the bench just out of sight from reception, which funnily enough used to be in their sight but was moved "so I was able to look at that particular tree". And coincidentally is also out of the rain/snow.

My son (who lives in Norway) tells me that when the three-metre distancing for Covid was relaxed the Norwegians he knew uttered exclamations of relief that they could now revert to their normal fifteen-metre distancing. Their main complain had been that they were asked not to follow their instincts and move from the cities to the cabins they had in the country miles from the nearest other human being, because rural hospitals might not be able to cope if they did that and then got ill.

But anyway, I would rather have Iceland ruling the world, so there.

@Crikeyalmighty

In Copenhagen I think there’s a lot more sun too— not warmer at all- but less rain, more sun . The dark night thing— even at its peak it’s 3.35pm in mid December here — not so different to uk ‘up north’ and reverse is true from April onwards- lighter much later

The only place I have ever got sunstroke was Jyväskylä; the wind-chill factor had fooled me into not noticing how powerful the sun still is in northern latitudes.

stories.oras.com/en/oras-bidetta-50-years-of-greatness

This was linked on another thread, Finns had this for 50years already. What other good stuff are they hiding?

Whenever I get confused about something in the UK (like why there are no automated systems for everything), my bf asks how we do it and I explain. He always seems baffled on why I'm happy to tell all these things to government.

In general, I'd say we are more obedient but that's because maybe historically we haven't been screwed over. There is a small population on large area which is helpful. It's also since Nordic are pretty insinicant on the world stage that nobody gives us attention we can only publicise the positives.

@TheQueef

stories.oras.com/en/oras-bidetta-50-years-of-greatness

This was linked on another thread, Finns had this for 50years already. What other good stuff are they hiding?

www.google.com/amp/s/www.apartmenttherapy.com/finnish-dish-drying-closets-251178%3famp=1

We are also hiding these

My son (who lives in Norway) tells me that when the three-metre distancing for Covid was relaxed the Norwegians he knew uttered exclamations of relief that they could now revert to their normal fifteen-metre distancing

Do Scandis do that awful European greeting of kissing on both cheeks that Brits make such a hash of?

@TheQueef

stories.oras.com/en/oras-bidetta-50-years-of-greatness

This was linked on another thread, Finns had this for 50years already. What other good stuff are they hiding?

It is such a great invention, even the public loos have them.

We have studded car tires on in the winter (not so much in dk), but ds just spend the winter months in Oslo and they have them on bikes too, genius .