From: jan.vindheim@gmail.com   
      
   Pete Bayle  wrote:   
      
   > When I saw this quote below on Andrew Sullivan I was struck by the   
   > concept of "social-democratic religion" accounting for the some of the   
   > difference in world views between Europe and the US.   
   >   
   > Haven't read the whole article yet, but noticed that the beginning   
   > speaks alot about Norway. Be interested in you opinion Jan. Both as to   
   > his account of Norway in particular and his whole argument in general.   
      
   Some amusing observations. I remember that story about the reindeer   
   steaks.   
      
   The author does however not seem to have understood Norwegian (or plain   
   European) ambiguity about US Culture.  Some of the Norwegian authors he   
   mentions have made it very clear that they admire many Americans and   
   many American traits and habits, but loathe others.   
      
   Bawer's point that CocaCola and McDonalds's have larger market shares in   
   Norway than in the US touches on this. Another point is the fact that   
   very many Norwegians love American country music,and dress up like   
   (their understanding of) cowboys.   
      
   However Bawer seems to have  very large chip on his shoulder on behalf   
   of his home country.  Claiming that the poor in the states live better   
   than most (Southern) Europeans do. Skips the point of social security.   
   This is where the social democrat consensus is relevant. Most Europeans   
   consider it a selfevident duty of the state to take care of health   
   services and social security at a decent level for everybody. In the   
   States they are still trying to create a national health care system, an   
   undisputed fact which i feel has some bearing on the living standards of   
   the poor.   
      
      
   (By the way the largest party in Norway, the Labour party, polls around   
   25-30 % - nowhere near 63%)   
   --   
   jan bojer vindheim   
   http://vindheim.net   
      
   --- SoupGate-Win32 v1.05   
    * Origin: you cannot sedate... all the things you hate (1:229/2)