When will we get news on the appeal?

[Galeb]

I don't think "Western culture"-based influences are what Scandinavia needs to worry about right now

Just because of their relatively recent problems with extremists doesn't mean they should ignore a longer standing problem that is an even greater threat to their way of life. Extremists might kill smaller numbers in violent acts over the next couple of decades, but there is little danger that extremist thought will dramatically change their culture or governing priorities. Russia could eventually pose an even greater threat in the near future, but we'll have to wait and see.

I'm not claiming that extremists aren't a significant problem that needs to be dealt with, but in both the short and long term, it is far from their greatest threat. That said, for those who don't value the things that set apart and elevate the Scandinavian's human rights, happiness and standard of living over the rest of the world, such Western influences aren't nearly the threat of extremism.

 

[oldrover]

What happened to the girl on the right end? Is she the token brunette?

Actually, in Scandinavia, apparently token brunettes have more fun.

 

[TheBostonStraggler]

I think the underlying philosophical differences have a much larger impact than population size. Although the Scandinavian countries excel in many areas of human, rights, happiness and development, they are being corrupted by "Western Culture" at an accelerating pace. Unless something changes, in a couple of generations they won't be much different than other European countries of a similar size.

My Commission on "appeal to authority" certainly can outdo your Commission on 'appeal to authority'.
With all due respect taking an official sounding commission's "findings" then using their conclusions as fact is junk science. Another similar and great appeal to authority that is junk science? A "Yale Professor" determined that footballs had been tampered with! See it must be true so let's have all discussions start from the point that footballs have been tampered with.
A powerful central government and a most robust (call it a welfare state, call it an extra thick safety net, whatever suits one's sensibilities) is the hallmark of Scandinavian countries. And if that is what you feel is best for and a need for everyone in order to provide happiness and development? Have at it.
But corruption by western culture? Western culture is the short and long term threat? Extremism is "new" (not, not by centuries at least) and eh it's a problem but not one of the big ones is woefully glib (depending on who you believe there is either 400 hundred to several thousand radicalized soldiers within and at war with the EU and similar).
Fyi, western culture is one of the foundations that allows for one to employ a very strong centralized government welfare state of happiness and development. Factually based, without western culture chances a country can employ a human rights, happiness, "development" is distinctly lesser......fyi.

I realize you are trying to push your politics in the height of the season of politics. It is what it is. But your desire to push them is tripping over your chance to apply nuance and counter.

You could reread my posts going back years to see few (possibly no one) on here is more harsh on the justice system within the US. Too often it should be referred to as B&O Railroad-ing. A system that has lost it's sense of justice and is now too often about how many the wins you can rack up/the headlines you rack up/mob pshort stroking so you can one day sit atop the vaulted throne as a mayor, state senator, governor, US congressman or senator. It outrages me and as I have suggested before you can go to the institute for justice website to see for yourselves. Criminal justice and civil justice are both in there. One outrage of note is government seizures. Few know the extent to which government administration can and has screwed over a broad spectrum of society. Jurists across the spectrum have ripped the government for their actions.....to little effect ("it never happened to me").
And this plays into both criminal and civil "justice": the more powerful the government the more ripe it is for abuse of the "justice" system. The problem, again, being as long as it is a manageable percentage of the public -- "it doesn't happen to me" -- then the government can do it with near impunity. And the stronger the government becomes the more it will care less about the percentage. So the commission on history concluded the more absolute the power the more absolute the corruption of the power (see Goodell, Roger). The goodness of the western civilization shunning Scandinavian countries will be no different is the commission on history's conclusion.
"those who surrender freedom for security (replace with happiness)......will not have either one"

BTW, assuming you believe the "justice" system's creation of some of our future political leaders, one should stop to consider these are the people who will be in charge of this big powerful central government that provides "happiness". And while these justice born leaders may now have a big shiny badge that says "I'm with you and your politics", you may be shocked to find it's only a shiny badge without an actual hold on their future or this very powerful central government's future actions.

 

[Galeb]

My Commission on "appeal to authority" certainly can outdo your Commission on 'appeal to authority'.
With all due respect taking an official sounding commission's "findings" then using their conclusions as fact is junk science. Another similar and great appeal to authority that is junk science? A "Yale Professor" determined that footballs had been tampered with! See it must be true so let's have all discussions start from the point that footballs have been tampered with.
A powerful central government and a most robust (call it a welfare state, call it an extra thick safety net, whatever suits one's sensibilities) is the hallmark of Scandinavian countries. And if that is what you feel is best for and a need for everyone in order to provide happiness and development? Have at it.
But corruption by western culture? Western culture is the short and long term threat? Extremism is "new" (not, not by centuries at least) and eh it's a problem but not one of the big ones is woefully glib (depending on who you believe there is either 400 hundred to several thousand radicalized soldiers within and at war with the EU and similar).
Fyi, western culture is one of the foundations that allows for one to employ a very strong centralized government welfare state of happiness and development. Factually based, without western culture chances a country can employ a human rights, happiness, "development" is distinctly lesser......fyi.

I realize you are trying to push your politics in the height of the season of politics. It is what it is. But your desire to push them is tripping over your chance to apply nuance and counter.

You could reread my posts going back years to see few (possibly no one) on here is more harsh on the justice system within the US. Too often it should be referred to as B&O Railroad-ing. A system that has lost it's sense of justice and is now too often about how many the wins you can rack up/the headlines you rack up/mob pshort stroking so you can one day sit atop the vaulted throne as a mayor, state senator, governor, US congressman or senator. It outrages me and as I have suggested before you can go to the institute for justice website to see for yourselves. Criminal justice and civil justice are both in there. One outrage of note is government seizures. Few know the extent to which government administration can and has screwed over a broad spectrum of society. Jurists across the spectrum have ripped the government for their actions.....to little effect ("it never happened to me").
And this plays into both criminal and civil "justice": the more powerful the government the more ripe it is for abuse of the "justice" system. The problem, again, being as long as it is a manageable percentage of the public -- "it doesn't happen to me" -- then the government can do it with near impunity. And the stronger the government becomes the more it will care less about the percentage. So the commission on history concluded the more absolute the power the more absolute the corruption of the power (see Goodell, Roger). The goodness of the western civilization shunning Scandinavian countries will be no different is the commission on history's conclusion.
"those who surrender freedom for security (replace with happiness)......will not have either one"

BTW, assuming you believe the "justice" system's creation of some of our future political leaders, one should stop to consider these are the people who will be in charge of this big powerful central government that provides "happiness". And while these justice born leaders may now have a big shiny badge that says "I'm with you and your politics", you may be shocked to find it's only a shiny badge without an actual hold on their future or this very powerful central government's future actions.

Boy you sure misinterpreted my post. I don't support big government at all. My post was about cultural factors, not political. Although I totally disagree with the foundation of your posts, I have no desire to get into politics. That said, you might want to research more deeply into Scandinavian governments. Although they do employ a lot of people to provides services to their population, their law, enforcement and penal systems are far less aggressive and intrusive than those of most "powerful central governments". I shudder to think at what will happen with so many services provided by a government once the population succombs to greed.

Although I do believe some of their government policies have significant effects on what sets Scandinavian countries apart (i.e. the penal and welfare systems), the far greater factors are cultural in nature. Quality of life is vastly more important than wealth to the average Scandinavian. For example, Scandinavians work less hours than most countries, yet remain the most productive workers/hour in the world. It will be a sad day when greed replaces culture as the driving force behind their governments.

When I say "Western Culture", I'm referring to the idea of profit and power over all else. The idea not only corrupts governments, it infects and divides populations. The quality of people our culture produced in the mid to late 1800s was second to none. The effect greed has had on our culture and the nature of people it produces is a great tragedy. You can turn this political if you want, but that was not my intent, and I won't participate. If you'd like to talk about cultural differences and merits, I'm all in.

 

[IllegalContact]

There's another board for making these slurping sounds

 

[Galeb]

There's another board for making these slurping sounds