I have been a libertarian for 2 years now and am fond of debating with interventionists and socialists on youtube. Now if there is one thing common among them is that they love to point out European Social Democracy, as in Nordic Welfare States, as the perfect system to have. I live in the Philippines where there are a lot of leftist zealot intellectuals yearning to change the current fascist regime into a social democracy. I always try to argue that Sweden has 7 million people, while Manila alone has 10M. Yet they never accept the impossibility of a welfare system in the Philippines. They also do not accept praxeology no matter how hard you try to explain. So I'm here to ask if there are any utilitarian or empirical evidence against welfare that I can use as a shortcut in debates with socialists. And why do people keep praising it if it is really that bad? I'm guessing that European welfare states work well economically(at least temporarily) since they have high per capita GDP. So I'm planning to base my attack on the social factors like depression and suicide numbers and family breakdown. I hear this is true of welfare states from FDR but I don't see any empirical documentation. So if anyone could provide these it would be greatly appreciated.
Talking about that will not affect people who use real socialist analysis. Socialists do not care how wealthy people are. Wealth is decadence. What they care about is exploitation of the working class by the fat, capitalist pig.
Check the first sticky thread in the economics section, called the Myth of Scandinavian Socialism. Pretty much has what you need.
BlackNumero: Check the first sticky thread in the economics section, called the Myth of Scandinavian Socialism. Pretty much has what you need.
This
Also I advice you to not debate on youtube or if you do then NOT the youtube comments section, it really is rather pointless and I have to say that it would seem most of the comments section posts which are actually serious are somwhat... Insane to say the least. If you are determined to continue with debates on that site however then I would advice to try to take the debate to PM whenever possible.
But "myth of Scandinavian socialism" thread really should see you through with this. Also try using the "that which is not seen" logic.
Hope you kick some socialist ass.
-TLAR
Where in the internet do you suggest me to debate?
The link below is to an excellent article by an English doctor regardig the points of view of physicians from the Phillipines and India who come to work in his hospital. At first, they view the English welfare state as the epitome of civlized society, but universally change their views after a few months of working within the system.
http://www.city-journal.org/html/9_2_oh_to_be.html
John Jensen: The link below is to an excellent article by an English doctor regardig the points of view of physicians from the Phillipines and India who come to work in his hospital. At first, they view the English welfare state as the epitome of civlized society, but universally change their views after a few months of working within the system. http://www.city-journal.org/html/9_2_oh_to_be.html
Excellent piece. It's exactly why I left London after a few short years even with a decent place to stay and a good job. I prefer the relative poverty of being in the hinterlands of America to the "civilized" epitome of the English welfare state.