Michael Moore loses it and attacks CNN

[Rush Limbaugh]

This guy just cant take criticism



O'Reilly to M. Moore: Try That With Me, Traitor; CNN...

What a loser

[Marcus_Suecius]

The exact examples that O'reilly take up that Moore would want the government to do. The right to descent housing, food etc. are all things we have in Sweden. And universal health care of course.

[JP226]

I like when Huckabee said it's because of fat ****s like Moore that drive the costs up. Not in those exact words of course.

and hence why your government expenditures are 56.7% of the GDP. Dangerous territory to tread in.

[lord o kelly]

the reason the third world is hungry is because Michael Moore eats all their relief food

[Kake]

Fox News? Greatest work of fiction since I don't know when...

[Kennylz]

He looks like Jabbah the Hutt, and James Bond had a kid.

[Rush Limbaugh]

The exact examples that O'reilly take up that Moore would want the government to do. The right to descent housing, food etc. are all things we have in Sweden. And universal health care of course.

Good for you. You are the third largest nation in europe with a population about the size of NYC. Its no wonder you have plenty of money. maybe the lowest population density of any major western nation.

Welfare state

Main article: Swedish welfare

Hjalmar Branting, the first democratically elected Prime Minister of Sweden.
Hjalmar Branting, the first democratically elected Prime Minister of Sweden.

In recent years, economic liberalization has ensured that Sweden is now more similar to other European countries with comparatively high tax rates. However, some still claim that the Scandinavian model is mid-way between socialism and capitalism, i.e. a mixed economy. The Swedish "welfare state" model of the 20th century is an example (some economists and socialists said) of effective use of national taxes, although others disagree about its continuing effectiveness. The Swedish welfare system remains extensive, but a recession in the 1990s forced an introduction of a number of reforms, such as education vouchers in 1992 and decentralization of some types of healthcare services to municipal control.[54]

While similar in form to other governments in Western Europe, the Swedish state is among the most generous in the scope of government services provided. These include tax-funded childcare, parental leave, a ceiling on health care costs, tax-funded education (all levels up to, and including university), retirement pensions, tax-funded dental care up to 20 years of age and sick leave (partly paid by the employer). Parents are entitled to a total of 480 days partly paid leave between birth and the child's eighth birthday, with 60 days reserved specifically for each parent, in effect providing the father with two so-called "daddy-months". The ceiling on health care costs makes it easier, relative to other nations, for Swedish workers to take time off for medical reasons.

Since the late 1960s, Sweden has had the highest tax quota (as percentage of GDP) in the industrialized world, although today the difference between other high-tax countries such as France, Belgium and Denmark has narrowed. Sweden has a two step progressive tax scale with a municipal income tax of about 30% and an additional high-income state tax of 20–25% when a salary exceeds roughly 300 000 SEK per year. The employing company pays an additional 32% of an "employer's fee". In addition, a national VAT of 25% or 18% is added to many things bought by private citizens, with the exception of food (12% VAT), transportation, and books (6% VAT). Certain items are taxed at higher rates, e.g. petrol/diesel and alcoholic beverages.

Good thing again your so rich

Economy

Main article: Economy of Sweden

Gross Regional Product (GRP) per capita in thousands of crowns (2004).
Gross Regional Product (GRP) per capita in thousands of crowns (2004).

Sweden is an export oriented market economy featuring a modern distribution system, excellent internal and external communications, and a skilled labour force. Timber, hydropower, and iron ore constitute the resource base of an economy heavily oriented toward foreign trade. Sweden's engineering sector accounts for 50% of output and exports. Telecommunications, the automotive industry and the pharmaceutical industries are also of great importance. Agriculture accounts for 2% of GDP and employment.

According to the book, The Flight of the Creative Class, by the U.S. economist, Professor Richard Florida of George Mason University, Sweden is ranked as having the best creativity in Europe for business and is predicted to become a talent magnet for the world’s most purposeful workers. The book compiled an index to measure the kind of creativity most useful to business – talent, technology and tolerance – and found Sweden to be the number one spot in Europe and the world. The top ten countries, in descending order, are: Sweden, Japan, Finland, the US, Switzerland, Denmark, Iceland, the Netherlands, Norway and Germany.[50]

Sweden's industry is overwhelmingly in private control; unlike some other industrialized Western countries, such as Austria and Italy, publicly owned enterprises were always of minor importance. Eighty percent of the workforce is organized through the trade-unions which have the right to elect two representatives to the board in all Swedish companies with more than 25 employees.[51]

The Swedish Riksbank - founded in 1668 and thus making it the oldest central bank in the world - is currently focusing on price stability with its inflation target of 2%. Growth is expected to reach 3.3% in 2006. High taxes have however ensured a higher degree of government influence on household consumption decisions than in most other Western nations. Public sector spending amounts to 53% of the GDP; the high figure primarily reflects the large transfer payments of the Swedish welfare state.

Swedish unemployment figures are highly contested, with the Social-Democrats defending the official figure of 5.4% (as of 2006) and the centre-right Alliance for Sweden claiming a much higher figure. These numbers do not, however, include people in government unemployment programmes (about 2% of the workforce), people on extended sick-leave, those in early retirement or those outside the unemployment system. Unemployment is higher amongst younger people. Many Swedes work abroad in Denmark, Norway and the UK, where they are desired and viewed as a skilled workforce.[citation needed] Because of the contradiction – unemployment despite a growing commercial enterprise economy – politicians and analysts often speak of the "jobless growth". According to Eurostat the unemployment rate in February 2007 was at 6.7% down from 7.4% from February 2006.[52]

Sweden is known for having an even distribution of income, with a Gini coefficient at 0.21 in 2001 (one of the most even income distributions in the industrialized world). However Sweden still bears scars from the economic crisis in the 1990s, which resulted in thousands of people unemployed and a great national debt. Two remnants are an increase in socioeconomic segregation[citation needed](Sweden's class divisions increased in the late 20th century, with semi-educated immigrants, low-income refugees and "guest workers" the most affected), and the national debt of approximately 1,248 billion Swedish Kronor (approx. €134 billion, 01.2007).[53]

[Marcus_Suecius]

and hence why your government expenditures are 56.7% of the GDP. Dangerous territory to tread in.

Our public sector is fairly large. It has to be in order to ensure that the welfare state continues

[JP226]

Our public sector is fairly large. It has to be in order to ensure that the welfare state continues

I know it is, more then half of your economic expenditures are public expenditures. the only way for the public to spend is to tax now or tax tomorrow and by doing that you damage the creation of wealth. It may be working now, but like all economies that are state heavy, they become unstable and collapse.

The nice thing though, only 5.5% of your GDP comes from public industry. That should buy you a few years.

[Marcus_Suecius]

The national debt is currently at 1.166 billion crowns. The main reason was as you said the economic crisis in the early ninties. Foreign currency speculators wrecked havoc in our public finances.

I can appriciate that our system isn't for everyone. But to hear Mr O'reilly describe our way of life as if it was the most prepostorous thing he's ever heard makes me wonder wether he ever has risen from that chair of his?

[danzig]

I love Moore anytime anyone attacks what he says they are in the pocket of someone. Did he watch the entire segment the conclusion was "no medical system is perfect but the US could be better"...what exactly is there to object to that? And god will he please stop saying 'free' health care, NO ONE has free health care either its paid out of taxes or its paid out of pocket.

[Eksadiss]

Welcome to Thursday nights unwelcome debate ya'all

[Rush Limbaugh]

The funny part is that the Dr on CNN agreed with a lot of what he said. He just cant take anyone not agreeing with him.

[boofhead]

I liked when O'Reilly said on his show that had FOX criticized "Sicko" Moore would have loved it, "it is the air he breathes"; but when CNN "his hometown" criticizes him he goes ape-****.

[Marcus_Suecius]

I know it is, more then half of your economic expenditures are public expenditures. the only way for the public to spend is to tax now or tax tomorrow and by doing that you damage the creation of wealth. It may be working now, but like all economies that are state heavy, they become unstable and collapse.

The nice thing though, only 5.5% of your GDP comes from public industry. That should buy you a few years.

How can you foresee my country's doom just like that? We have several large companies here, and our export lies on a steady level.

I want my government to be there for the citizens. Welfare is not a curseword here, and that's the way I want it

[danzig]

How can you foresee my country's doom just like that? We have several large companies here, and our export lies on a steady level.

I want my government to be there for the citizens. Welfare is not a curseword here, and that's the way I want it

Your offense is misplaced. The issue isnt that your system is bad its just that your system wouldnt work here nor do people want it.

[Sher Khan]

Moore isn't the kind of political character to moderate what he believes.

You usually need people like him to stir the moderates to talk about the issue at hand, whereas without him raising hell, we wouldn't think twice about it.


That said, as a hopeful future doctor, I agree with Gupta. It's not terrible, but it could and should be much better.

[JP226]

How can you foresee my country's doom just like that? We have several large companies here, and our export lies on a steady level.

I want my government to be there for the citizens. Welfare is not a curseword here, and that's the way I want it

because i'm a genius, that's why. I can predict the future that's how.

[Marcus_Suecius]

I see. Well, if you could put that in your sig, so that there will be no further misunderstandings then?

[kev-o]

You have to admire Moore for having balls, crazy, but has balls