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Who: Kimball Corson. Text and Photos not disclaimed or that are obviously not mine are copyright (c) Kimball Corson 2004-2016
Port: Lake Pleasant, AZ
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The Scandinavian Countries: Does Size Matter?

24 August 2014 | Pago Pago, American Samoa
Kimball Corson
In the main, it seems conceded that the Scandinavian countries and societies do better than we do. The issue is why. Many contend it is because they are smaller than we are and are more homogeneous. I disagree, but do concede they are smarter than we are in the main because 1) they have no huge block of religious nuts, 2) they have no huge block of ideological nuts, and 3) they have no huge block of paranoid gun nuts. But is smarts or population homogeneity really an issue?

As with size, I argue homogeneity is not an issue, as long as are enough smart and honest people to make the laws and run the government and people obey the laws instead of successfully fighting against them. Size is not the issue, as many think, for similar reasons. The real difference instead and in the main is the Scandinavians have good laws and excellent social agendas reflected in those laws, including in their tax laws. Their laws are well obeyed and enforced. Their mixes of capitalism and what Americans think is socialism are bold, inventive, well financed and successful. The Scandinavian oligarchs do not control government in the Scandinavian countries, the voting public does. The oligarchs are not allowed to act contrary to the public interest and typically don't try to. These are huge differences that have nothing to do with homogeneity or size.

We have more smart people, more poor people and more rich people than the Scandinavian countries, but so what? Matters are adequately scaled and workable adjustments can be made and problems solved. The central point is the Scandinavian countries are progressive and thoughtful about it and can made the adjustments they needed to. We are not because we elect not to be. These matters afford other major differences overlooked in the size and homogeneity debate.

In the US, we have deficient laws that are too often not enforced at all and ignored because of the political shenanigans of those being pressed by them, and our laws are too often blown to smithereens by special interest loop holes handed out for cash from our oligarchs by our bogus representatives. In short, we are are too corrupt, personally greedy and lawless as a nation, and so as a nation, we are rudderless and badly adrift, unable to address our problems. The Scandinavian countries are not so afflicted. Size and homogeneity have no bearing on these issues, which are central in my view.

Regulation and social agendas work much better in Scandinavia where laws are well considered and obeyed. I did two papers on that topic for Milton Friedman once who argued regulators become captive of those they regulate so all regulation fails. Both papers concluded that was not true in the Scandinavian countries. They believe in law and comply with it very well, instead of having lobbyists and lawyers fighting it every which way to Sunday. Their oligarchs also behave. Some even appreciate being able to contribute more because they like living in happy, well managed societies with good infrastructures.

Our central problem is we are simply too lawless, greedy and corrupt to succeed at much as a nation. Size and homogeneity are not the real issues here.
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Vessel Name: Altaira
Vessel Make/Model: A Fair Weather Mariner 39 is a fast (PHRF 132), heavily ballasted (43%), high-aspect (6:1), stiff, comfortable, offshore performance cruiser by Bob Perry that goes to wind well (30 deg w/ good headway) and is also good up and down the Beaufort scale.
Hailing Port: Lake Pleasant, AZ
Crew: Kimball Corson. Text and Photos not disclaimed or that are obviously not mine are copyright (c) Kimball Corson 2004-2016
About:
Kimball Corson: I am a 75 year old solo sailor, by choice. However, I did take on a personable, but high maintenance female kitten, now a full grown cat, named KiKiPoo when she is sweet, or KatKatPo after she has just killed something like a bird or bat. [...]
Extra:
Although I was a lawyer and practiced law with good success for thirty years, creating significant new law, I never really believed in the law, the politics of law or in the over reaching self-interest of most lawyers I met. Too much exposure to Nietzsche and other good and seriously thoughtful [...]
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Profile

Who: Kimball Corson. Text and Photos not disclaimed or that are obviously not mine are copyright (c) Kimball Corson 2004-2016
Port: Lake Pleasant, AZ