"Harry Krause" wrote in message
...
DSK wrote:
The majority of Americans are moving backwards economically in terms of
earnings, and many have lost or are losing good employment, insurance,
even their houses.

Household income has been growing slower than credit card debt. What does
that tell you about the U.S. standard of living?


Eisboch wrote:
I don't know if the "majority" are or are not, but don't you see the
difference in thinking?
The average "Joe Swede" looks at an American moving backwards and can't,
for the life of him, understand why and may even long for the
opportunity that he thinks the American has.


Agreed... but the problem is that opportunity being outsourced to China
and you probably know more than most about how difficult it is to make
any innovation pay off.

The fact that the biggest U.S. growth industry for the last 8 years has
been lobbying, should say a lot about the US system and opportunity. The
fact the so-called conservatives have been in charge most of that time is
one reason why I am PO'd at the current gang of "conservatives" in
politics.

The U.S. is not a fair marketplace and those who shout the loudest about
opportunity & free markets are the ones who work the hardest to subvert
the rules in their own favor.

All that aside, I had a close partner in college who was a Swedish
engineering student. Very smart and also had quite a few observations
about similarities and differences between the U.S. and America. You'd
probably enjoy his perspective on Swedish socialized medicine... almost
everything is free, but if you need specialized treatment then you go
back after 5pm and be prepared to pay cash.

Regards
Doug King



As opposed to the US system, where, if you are one of the nearly 50
million without health insurance ........snip

That is a misleading statement. How many of those without health insurance
are in that category based on *their* decision not to carry it even though
they can afford it? How many because they cannot afford it?