Welfare State version 2.0
Welfare State golden boy Pekka Himanen sounds like a bit of a space cadet in his Financial Times guest column. Author of “The Hacker Ethic“, where he preaches how everything in society should be free and open, yet I’m unable to find his book online anywhere for free. In his FT column titled, “A nation of ‘dreamers with shovels in their hands‘”, the philosopher disagrees with economists’ economic view of Finland, bashes free trade, and shows praise for “the welfare state version 2.0″…
I still remember the stories of my grandparents that make this history very alive for me. My grandmother was born to a family of eight, of which only four survived infancy.
Because of poverty she had to leave her home at the age of 16 to work as a servant. Later she worked as a cleaner, including, at one time, at the Government Palace.
One night, while she was cleaning the Prime Minister Urho Kekkonen’s office (who later became the president), he returned unexpectedly to the room. As “just a common cleaning womanâ€Â, she was very nervous meeting him. But Kekkonen left a big impression. “I’m sorry that I have interrupted your work like this,†he said, continuing: “It is people like you, who put their heart to both their work and family, that make Finland what it is.â€Â
He treated her as an equal, fulfilling the dream she had always shared: “I dream that my dignity as a human being is recognised.â€Â
As the grandson of this poor cleaner, I would argue that ultimately the Finnish dream is rooted in the ethics of dignity, which is what mothers teach their children. The fundamental basis of the Finnish model is everyone’s equal right to fulfil their unique human potential in life.
This is why we strive for the combination of caring and creativity. There is naturally also a possible global dimension to this ideal of caring and creativity. At the moment, we know that global development is not giving everyone a chance to fulfil their potential. Way too many are left out.
[...]There is still a lot to do for the dreamers with shovels in their hands. As for the vision, from the Finnish perspective, this would be my paraphrase of the Martin Luther King speech: “I have a dream . . . that one day . . . we live in a world where every human being has a right to lead a dignified life.†Imagine what a world of six billion people could be like if all had the chance to use their human potential to the full.
Yes Pekka, I’m sure that Finland’s exclusively white welfare state is exactly what Martin Luther King had in mind when he wrote “I have a dream…”
Who is this guy?
Comment by Kourtney N. Williams — Tue, Sep 11th, 2007 @ 3:40 pm
“bashes free trade”
I bash it too. Can’t wait for a return to store shelves filled with nothing more than Valio jogurtti, Lapin Kulta and wooden sauna ladles—everything our 5M person economy can produce.
Oh, and there’ll be plenty of mobile phones, because we’ll be selling far fewer units abroad. Protectionism works both ways, you know.
Comment by Kristian — Tue, Sep 11th, 2007 @ 3:45 pm
my mother left finland permanently partly because of the welfare state mentality. her lesson to us:
it’s hard to be poor in finland, but it’s even harder to be rich.
while that statement is 100% about money, the truth of the situation in finland goes beyond financial opportunity.
Comment by half — Tue, Sep 11th, 2007 @ 4:14 pm
When I think of social democratic values, I don’t think about anything that this guy is talking about. I am thinking about the little old ladies in the countryside who tell me that they are getting the shaft and that they have to live such demeaning, poor lives in their elderhood — this is Estonia, the paradise of Milton Friedman-inspired domestic policies.
In the end, even the Uncle Milty-worshipping Reform Party can’t make the old, poor ladies, still wearing clothes they got in the *1970s* under the USSR, disappear. So they agree to cut them a larger pension check. And they cut young mother’s a “mother’s salary’ to support them while they take care of their babies.
That’s because even the most right-wing of parties have accepted that some social democratic ideas — state economic support for the elderly or children — work better than the rightwing utopia where everything works according to the ‘natural economy.’ Maybe some social democratic programs are part of that ‘natural economy’.
Chew on that crunchy, hippie-loving granola bar for awhile!
Comment by giustino — Tue, Sep 11th, 2007 @ 4:15 pm
But Kekkonen left a big impression. “I’m sorry that I have interrupted your work like this,†he said, continuing: “It is people like you, who put their heart to both their work and family, that make Finland what it is.â€Â
The next time you walk into WalMart or McDonald’s, simply tell the minimum wage labor, “It is people like you, who put their heart to both their work and family, that make the United States what it is.” …and all is fine then I guess! LOL!
(…but don’t be alarmed when the McDonald’s cashier replies, “Que?”)
Comment by Phil — Tue, Sep 11th, 2007 @ 4:45 pm
Well giustino, I can only say that recovering from a USSR economy is difficult any way you slice it. But, by my assessment, I would rather be a little old lady in Estonia than in Hungary (a country that currently espouses the complete opposite of Milt Friedman’s paradigm). Or Poland for that matter.
Anyway, I believe firmly that Milton Friedman’s strategies should be implemented from the top downward. Not from the bottom upward. So taking care of little old ladies should indeed be the first priority.
Comment by Kristian — Tue, Sep 11th, 2007 @ 4:45 pm
Who is this guy?
A man in desperate need of a clean shave! Ba-dum-ching!!
Comment by Phil — Tue, Sep 11th, 2007 @ 4:46 pm
He is a man that lives in the lap of luxury that is funded by the sales of cellular phones, paper, cruise ships, etc. on the FREE MARKET.
Comment by Sirkuspelle — Tue, Sep 11th, 2007 @ 4:56 pm
Yes Pekka, I’m sure that Finland’s exclusively white welfare state is exactly what Martin Luther King had in mind when he wrote “I have a dream…â€Â
The words and the meaning behind them is not always tied to the context, and the author doesn’t always understand the full relevance behind his chosen words.
There’s a classic story of Isaac Asimov going incongito to listen literacy professor talking about this work. Afterwards he rose up and said “I’m quite sure I never meant that”, to which the professor answered; “yes, but you are just the writer” (or something to that effect).
“Every human being” means everyone, and does not make a diffence between differences in income or colour of skin.
That to be said, I don’t really see how the text was relevant for economy.
Comment by Juho Salo — Tue, Sep 11th, 2007 @ 5:20 pm
*you are just the writer, what would you know?
Comment by Juho Salo — Tue, Sep 11th, 2007 @ 5:21 pm
This is the guy who along with Manuel Castells wrote about “… the Finnish model … dynamic in technological and economic terms, but combines the information society with the welfare state.” Suggesting something like that is of course a capital crime and Himanen will be stoned to death as soon as the pundits get enough fake beards in order to look like men.
Comment by Anonymous — Tue, Sep 11th, 2007 @ 5:30 pm
“He treated her as an equal, fulfilling the dream she had always shared: “I dream that my dignity as a human being is recognised.—
– Really? if so, why did he need SERVANTS?
Comment by Fred Fry — Tue, Sep 11th, 2007 @ 6:44 pm
#8- Brilliant Sirkuspelle. That is one thing (actually among many) that always makes me laugh in Finland. Another classic Finnish contradiction whereby everyone is happy to bash globalization, international trade, multinationals, consumerism etc but always jump up to celebrate the Finnish products you mention. Classic Finnish vision and understanding
Comment by Punter — Tue, Sep 11th, 2007 @ 9:41 pm
After what I’ve heard of Kekkonen, I wouldn’t be surprised if the big impression left on grandma by The Pres was Pekka’s mum or dad
Ooops.. Although we know we know it we don’t talk about those things in open Finland. Sorry to anybody offended
Comment by Punter — Tue, Sep 11th, 2007 @ 9:47 pm
#6, Estonian old ladies are better than Hungarian old ladies anyway. I saw two get in a fight in a garden recently. They were arguing over whether or not to throw out old flowers.
Aino: “Pane seda pruugi kasti!”
Salme: “Ei taha panna pruugi kasti!”
Aino: “Noh, kurat, pane seda pruugi kasti!”
And back and forth, seven or eight more times. I think Aino’s husband, perhaps named something smart like Johannes or Voldemar, intervened in the end.
Comment by giustino — Tue, Sep 11th, 2007 @ 10:10 pm
Well, I’m not sure, who pays Pekka’s philosophering at the moment, but he should do some real job for some time, where one has to stand some mulquist boss, steamrolling happily over every piece of creativity in sight. Or get some “research” post in science or engineering, which turns out to be trivial product development for industry with scientific novelty value of a 3rd year university textbook. Then he could come back preaching how dignified and creativity-encouraging it is here.
Comment by Antti rn — Tue, Sep 11th, 2007 @ 10:18 pm
…And what comes to Kekkonen, Eläkeläiset put it best:
http://www.ainurin.net/history/kekkonen/ukk5.htm
Comment by Antti rn — Tue, Sep 11th, 2007 @ 10:24 pm
I’m sure that Finland’s exclusively white welfare state is exactly what Martin Luther King had in mind when he wrote “I have a dream…â€Â
And I was thinking he had in mind the exclusively black (and independent) states like Liberia and Sierra Leone, as compared to Mississippi or even Maryland they probably were welfare states…
Comment by Hank W. — Wed, Sep 12th, 2007 @ 1:19 am
“…yet I’m unable to find his book online anywhere for free.”
Says it all, I think
Comment by Fägäri — Wed, Sep 12th, 2007 @ 3:14 am
Yep, your money is free to give to him, but give his book away? Says it all.
Typical liberal.
Comment by winter “Yea, Proton Power, now in remission†— Wed, Sep 12th, 2007 @ 3:21 am
winter,
you’re a typical liberal
Comment by Kristian — Wed, Sep 12th, 2007 @ 3:50 am
I think that Himanen means “Free” as “Libre” not like “free beer”
So information and culture should be _libre_ and open. They don’t have to be free (like beer)
Comment by pakkanen — Wed, Sep 12th, 2007 @ 10:19 am
Besides, he has to make a living too. Can you support yourself if you work for free? He may dream about this society where information is free but in the end of the day he has to live in this one.
Comment by Pave — Wed, Sep 12th, 2007 @ 12:19 pm
“He may dream about this society where information is free but in the end of the day he has to live in this one.”
Ah, so reality does hit a liberal hard in the idea area.
Comment by winter “Yea, Proton Power, now in remission†— Wed, Sep 12th, 2007 @ 1:26 pm
Another dreamy lefty who is merely book smart and nothing else. I am not impressed by such reality detached academics who think they know how society works just because they have read a bunch of books. The fellow sounds like a socialist who hides his ideology behind a cloud of smart talking.
Comment by bafana — Wed, Sep 12th, 2007 @ 4:14 pm
The fellow even cultivates a beard like Karl Marx. I assume he considers himself a reincarnation, or so. Seems he wants to sell us communism 2.0 and I know it will work as well as the version 1.0.
Comment by bafana — Wed, Sep 12th, 2007 @ 4:16 pm
Half – Where rich is being able to eat and pay rent and see a movie without worry?
Comment by hfb — Wed, Sep 12th, 2007 @ 5:08 pm
And that book, as I recall, was given very tepid reception even in Finland.
Comment by hfb — Wed, Sep 12th, 2007 @ 5:10 pm
46% of all poor households actually own their own homes.
Eighty percent of poor households have air conditioning.
The typical poor American has more living space than the average individual living in Paris, London, Vienna, Athens, and other cities throughout Europe.
three-quarters of poor households own a car, 31% own two or more cars.
97% of poor households have a color television.
So just what am I missing that he wants them to have in this dream?
Comment by winter “Yea, Proton Power, now in remission†— Wed, Sep 12th, 2007 @ 5:21 pm
Antti, if you have to whore, do so via your own company so that you’ll at least get properly compensated.
“Cut the middle man! That’s how I made my money!” -Benny Hill
Comment by Freeridin' Franklin — Wed, Sep 12th, 2007 @ 7:20 pm
Ah, I finally got it.
A Hummer in every driveway. Just a little slow today.
Comment by winter “Yea, Proton Power, now in remission†— Wed, Sep 12th, 2007 @ 7:20 pm
#28-Winter, finally you have said something reasonable. Now shut up for a month and don’t spoil it.
Damn, just saw your post #30
Comment by Punter — Wed, Sep 12th, 2007 @ 9:07 pm
A month? Then I can’t tell you how stupid your next move is. Or how you are single handly not helping the world.
Comment by winter “Yea, Proton Power, now in remission†— Thu, Sep 13th, 2007 @ 1:53 am
“46% of all poor households actually own their own homes…
…The typical poor American has more living space than the average individual living in Paris, London, Vienna, Athens, and other cities throughout Europe.”
I don’t think that a double-wide trailer counts as a home!
Comment by dhen — Thu, Sep 13th, 2007 @ 5:15 am
“I don’t think that a double-wide trailer counts as a home!” dhen
Who are you, Leona Fucking Helmsly?
Comment by Dave the Revelator — Thu, Sep 13th, 2007 @ 10:03 am
I don’t think that a double-wide trailer counts as a home!
Then either should a 30sq/m “loft”.
Comment by Phil — Thu, Sep 13th, 2007 @ 10:59 am
“I don’t think that a double-wide trailer counts as a home!”
No, in Finland you would cut it in half, turn off the power and plumbing and call it a cottage. Ah, Finnish paradise
Comment by Punter — Thu, Sep 13th, 2007 @ 12:44 pm
“’I don’t think that a double-wide trailer counts as a home!’ dhen
Who are you, Leona Fucking Helmsly?”
No, I’m a realist. Would you enjoy living in a tin box where you have to put tires on the roof to keep it from blowing away?
http://drbukk.com/gmhom/images/tireSolution.jpg
More pictures of these modern architectural marvels can be found here:
http://drbukk.com/gmhom/images/tireSolution.jpg
Comment by dhen — Fri, Sep 14th, 2007 @ 3:05 am
This was supposed to be the second link:
http://drbukk.com/gmhom/park.html
Comment by dhen — Fri, Sep 14th, 2007 @ 3:07 am
Thats not fair. Those Double Wides have inside plumbing.
Here in Southern Maryland, we use Port-A-Potties.
My neighbor even has 2 Port-A-Potties, so there is no line.
Comment by winter “Yea, Proton Power, now in remission†— Fri, Sep 14th, 2007 @ 3:51 am
Well, I guess you just have to move to Mississippi! The new promised land…
Comment by dhen — Fri, Sep 14th, 2007 @ 5:33 am
Mississippi!
Yuk, we like our porta-potty’s. The one in my driveway was cleaned out last week. you can actually use it now.
Yes, I do have one, as the house is being rebuilt.
Comment by winter “Yea, Proton Power, now in remission†— Sat, Sep 15th, 2007 @ 2:47 am
“Yes Pekka, I’m sure that Finland’s exclusively white welfare state is exactly what Martin Luther King had in mind when he wrote “I have a dream…”
This is so puerile. I mean, are you *really* incapable of understanding simple metaphors? Please, somebody, *grow up*…
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