"Elizabeth Bruenig is back.
The Washington Post columnist memorably wrote last week that she wished for an upsurge in support for socialism.
I critiqued that column.
Now she’s written a response to that critique, claiming that I (among others) interpreted her in bad faith for mentioning several countries that have tried socialism and failed, from Venezuela to the Soviet Union, and for pointing out that many of the supposedly socialist countries that socialists so often proclaim as their examples aren’t actually socialist (see, for example, Denmark and Sweden).
...Finally, she decides on her favorite new socialist paradise: Norway.
Now, this is useful.
We can argue over whether the United States ought to embrace policies more like those of Norway.
...So, is Norway actually a socialist country?
Not quite.
It’s far more socialistic than the United States — but that’s not really a good thing, which is why immigration to Norway has been historically low, while immigration to the United States has remained remarkably high.
And making apples to orange comparisons between Norway and the U.S. isn’t statistically or intellectually honest."
Read it all!
Now she’s written a response to that critique, claiming that I (among others) interpreted her in bad faith for mentioning several countries that have tried socialism and failed, from Venezuela to the Soviet Union, and for pointing out that many of the supposedly socialist countries that socialists so often proclaim as their examples aren’t actually socialist (see, for example, Denmark and Sweden).
...Finally, she decides on her favorite new socialist paradise: Norway.
Now, this is useful.
We can argue over whether the United States ought to embrace policies more like those of Norway.
...So, is Norway actually a socialist country?
Not quite.
It’s far more socialistic than the United States — but that’s not really a good thing, which is why immigration to Norway has been historically low, while immigration to the United States has remained remarkably high.
And making apples to orange comparisons between Norway and the U.S. isn’t statistically or intellectually honest."
Read it all!
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