I was pretty impressed myself, putting the whole modern political controversy into – what? – 200 words. I’m pretty sure I could trim it down to 100 if I really tried.

Trying to monpolize the concept of “freedom”, the way certain “pundits” do, is a strange pursuit indeed. Wannabe dictators have such amibitions.

Anyway, now that I’ve explained how politics work I’d like to expand towards economics: laissez-faire works only if markets are able to internalize all extrnalities. You don’t believe me? Well, try to refute neo-liberalism in 12 words yourself!

Yeah, I totally agree with you. Ever since I moved to the US, I’ve had problems understanding what hell is it that drives Americans to try so hard to monopolize the concept of freedom and pretend like they are the only truly free country in the world. That is just such bullshit. I’ve never met a single American whos lifestyle or quality of life has been somehow better or more “free” than mine has ever been. Don’t get me wrong, I love my life here and would definitely leave if I didn’t. Its just these 100% black-and-white people like Finnpundit and Jason Ward who after spending their life in a closet simply pick a side and then try and justify everything that their “pick” stands for because its “if you’re not with us, you’re against us” or “you can’t get a little bit pregnant”. Its especially hilarious when you get to spend some time in the US and objectively observe the American lifestyle, which to me doesn’t remind me of freedom when, for example, you see people work 6-7 days a week 10-15 hours a day and never question why. A 1 week vacation a year is bliss. Sure, you are free to work your ass off because your employer is free and doesn’t have to grant your 5 weeks of vacation every year. You are also free join live under a bridge, smoke crack, join a street gang, and rob gas stations….. and please don’t tell me this is a “cultural thing”, not an issue of poverty (and I’m not saying poverty is the only reason, just that it is the main contributor). Finnpundit and Jason Ward, if your system is so great, why is there so much fucked up shit going on in your country? Why is there so much less fucked up shit going on in the modern Scandinavian welfare states? How can it possibly be that a little country like Finland excels in so many areas over the great US?

Interestingly, I happen to work for a professional services company that I would consider very advanced in terms of technology adaptation, HR policies, etc. My employer is one of the few companies in the US that offers a fixed 25 days of paid time off…. which OMG sounds to me like adapting welfare state kommie klutz kid policies!!! To quote Finnpundit, “Americans should continue to do what they do best and that is to make money”. Sure, go ahead….. but cut this sorry assed freedom rap.

I think he has this right-wing idea that higher taxes mean less liberty. That again has to do with the age-old disagreement wether freedom should be “negative” or “positive”. That again has to do with the disagreement wether “I” is more important than “we”, or more precisely, wether “I” should be part of “we” only if “I” wants to be part of “we”. But because every society puts limits to “I” as well as to “we” the whole question revolves in the end around where exactly the limits should be. Because of historical reasons Finland tends to lean a bit more towards “we” than “I”. Many Americans call this socialism and think it’s wrong. That’s why they want to bash Finland, or Europe, telling us that we are not really free (not knowing that, in fact, their own society is in many ways more “socialistic” than many European countries). The frustrating thing – in their view – is that many “we-ish” European countries clearly function better than the more “I-ish”, capitalistic countries – not because they are socialist but because voluntary cooperation tends to work better than any other form of organization. Just ask any firm.

I think he has this right-wing idea that higher taxes mean less liberty. That again has to do with the age-old disagreement wether freedom should be “negative” or “positive”. That again has to do with the disagreement wether “I” is more important than “we”. Every society puts limits to “I” as well as to “we”, so in the end the whole question revolves around where exactly the limits should be. Because of historical reasons Finland tends to lean a bit more towards “we” than “I”. Many Americans call this socialism and think it’s wrong. That’s why they want to bash Finland, or Europe, telling us that we are not really free (not knowing that their own society is in many ways more “socialistic” than many European countries).

I don’t understand all this bitching and whining about the UN. If it’s such a huge problem, just resign. Hey, it’s been done before with the League of Nations by all those countries who worked so hard to make the world a better place back in the 1930s.

While you’re at it, why don’t you do away with that useless diplomacy hippie BS. If some lesser country fails to comply with your demands, just threaten to nuke ‘em. It works! Think of all the taxpayer dollars you could save and use for education and healthcare more cruise missiles and cluster bombs.

Once you’ve done away with useless diplomacy, it’s time to do some cleanin’ up on your back yard. Have a problem with illegal immigrants? Roll the tanks into Mexico and round up the chicanos in specially designed camps. There’s just so many maids that the top 1% needs. Then continue south and take Colombia to make sure that the right people are making a profit with the cola the drug cartels are smashed once and for all. Then it’s time for Venezuela. Time to finally take care of the Chavez situation. And so on…

No system is perfect, but for European socialism to exist, it must do so partly at the expense of teh American consumer

OMG! Finnpundit has been cloned!

Do us a favor an tell us what exactly are those numerous freedoms that an American has vs. what a Finn has? Pls educate us.

Were not the so-called ‘fairest’ country in the world. We don’t prop up the welfare state to the degree Europe does, and on the flip side, we don’t punish people for making a success of their life.

No system is perfect, but for European socialism to exist, it must do so partly at the expense of teh American consumer (ie. prescription drug controls). So next time you feel like bashing American policy, think about the geopolitics and how American capitalism makes the economic engine run and allows your ‘Utopia’.

This is exactly my point. You are so caught up in every concveivable conspiracy and negative bit of news that all you can do is ‘entertain’ the idea. It’s obvious to me that I do live in an open, democratic society. Even with its flaws, Americans have much more freedoms that the socialist systems of Western Europe.

Many Europeans entertain the idea that the US is a democratic open society that might actually somehow react to worldwide public opinion, unlike a Stalinist dictatorship such as Belarus.

Does this shock you?

While Europeans are quick to criticize the United States for its capitalistic short-comings, few seem to be bothered by the modern-day dictatorship that thrives in Belarus…..

Read the rest @ http://arktinenjenkki.blogspot.com/

Well, if you are bringing large amounts of American troops into a country (or a region) I guess it will be more or less stable if the people in that country actually want those troops there. And in the 50s, Western Europe did. Although I suspect a big part of the stability in Western Europe since 1945 has also something to do with the process of European integration and the epiphany-like idea that Europeans will be more happy and well-off if they co-operate instead of fighting each other all the time…

Western European economic and political recovery after WWII was hugely aided by the heavy American involvement, I give you that. But again, the US policies towards Europe were not ONLY or even MAINLY about helping Europeans per se. The US did what it did because this was the best strategy for maintaining their own strong position in the world both politically and economically. A democratic, wealthy Western Europe would provide markets for American companies and products and allies for international politics. A third world-level Western Europe would not, and would probably fall into the lap of the Soviet Union sooner or later.

Mikko Sandt:
“And that is a bad thing?”

Am I saying it is a bad thing? If we forget all the lying and disregarding international law (not to speak of world opinion) that accompanied the invasion of Iraq, there is nothing inherently “bad” or “evil” about it. This is what leading sovereign nations do to maintain their interests, have done for centuries.

But it is not “good” either, it is not JUST or even MAINLY about “defending freedom and democracy”: it is just the politics of looking out for number one. This is why it really gets on my nerves when the proponents of US policies tell me that the Europeans should do “the right thing” and support the US or that we are either “with them or against them”. Every sovereign nation has its valid political interests and in that regard US is -or does- nothing special. If you are the strongest nation, push your own agenda and make controversial decisions, do not get offended if you are critisized or opposed: you had it coming.

Of course.

The new Iraqi regime has to be kept in check and dependant of American support, because this are the best way to ensure the safety of US interests… uups, of course I mean “the future of peace, democracy and stability in the region”.

And that is a bad thing?