Workers rights stripped in Wisconsin. (Page 8)

davidk14: .

The Copenhagen Post spoke to Gunnar Viby Mogensen, an author of several books on the Danish welfare state, and co-founder and former head of the Rockwool research unit, which has compiled several reports on the welfare system.

The decades up to 1993 saw a massive increase in public spending: from 1970 to 1993, public social spending soared from 19 percent of GDP to 32 percent. According to Mogensen, this rapid increase can be put down to three specific periods where the finances of the welfare state received decisive nudges tilting it out of balance.


The first one, he explained, started in the early ‘70s when the role of the state extended into several new areas. The levels of existing benefits were increased across the board, and new schemes were introduced. First came a full old-age pension for all, regardless of income; then came an increase in unemployment benefits and social security payments, and the decade finished with the introduction of the early retirement benefit scheme in 1979.

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davidk14: .

“That was a period of irresponsible economic policy, including a lax attitude towards huge wage increases,” said Mogensen.


The second period of increase started in 1983 with the liberalization of the immigration policy, which opened the borders to the social cash register. For example, he explained, a single mother from Iran could bring her four kids to Denmark and from day one collect social security, housing benefits, child benefits, free places in nurseries and free healthcare.


“The following years saw an influx of people from developing countries with low levels of education and, it was to prove, very low capabilities with regards to abiding by the welfare society’s ‘generation contract’, whereby people of working age bore their share of financing the welfare system through earning money on the labor market,” said Mogensen. “This resulted in a massive rise in expenses for the welfare state because the new rules accommodated very large groups of the population who would never come to contribute anywhere near what they could claim in benefits.”


The third expansion period started in 1987 when the government – eager to accommodate voters in the the public sector – let their salaries increase by seven percent, while at the same time the working week was reduced from 39 to 37 hours.


“The economy was heading the wrong way and the only right thing to do would have been to take it easy with the pay increases – we simply couldn’t afford that seven percent rise, and it resulted in a big dent in our long-term economic sustainability,” he said.

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davidk14: .

There were also factors in play that tended to create self-perpetuating growth in the public sector, he explained. These related to the fact that it is harder to increase productivity in the state sector than in the private sector, while salaries in the state sector automatically track increases in the private sector. In addition, there was pressure for continued growth in the state sector from the ‘welfare coalition’, the rapidly increasing percentage of the population – now a clear majority – who were either employed by the state or received benefits from the public sector.


Mogensen sees the tide slowly starting to turn as the seriousness of the problem is becoming ever clearer, though many fear it might be too little too late. Total public social spending in Denmark has fallen slightly from 32 percent of GDP in 1993 to 28 percent in recent years: unemployment is now lower than it was prior to 1993, and benefit levels for the unemployed have been gradually reduced. At the same time, access to the early retirement benefit scheme has been made somewhat less liberal, and could be cut entirely.


“On the other hand, public social expenses are under pressure from the large group of immigrants living on welfare, as well as from the self-perpetuating pressures for more resources generated within the public sector,” he explained.


In his New Year’s speech, Prime Minister Lars Løkke Rasmussen said that for every five people leaving the job market to go on a pension, only four people are ready to take over.

“The cost of supporting the growing number of elderly people in the population is another major challenge,” he added.


According to Mogensen, economic experts in Denmark generally agree that decision-makers from both sides of the political spectrum are only making half-hearted efforts to resolve the financing difficulties currently faced by the welfare state.


Chrono, you have got to do research on the topic. You just paint yourself into a corner with no way out except to of course...

You said, “David, do you not see the irony in your comparison with American schoolchildren and Danish kids?” Irony? Irony?

Denmark is having huge economic issues “worse” than even America. Yet their children are better educated than US kids as I originally posted. Why is that? The United States public schools suck….pure and simple. Who controls the teachers? Unions. Wisconsin is trying to correct that situation in their state…with the blessing of the electorate. Many other states are following in Wisconsin’s footsteps.

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chronology: (Me walking onto the Forum dressed as a Shakespearean Actor) to David; 'There is 'nothing' rotten in the State of Denmark'.

Guys, let us all give David the Bu@@shi@ers award for 2011 so far.

He is doing exactly what he always does, going into the dusty archives of the Web to drag up any statistics that support his Bronze Age economics. Denmark's economic figures for 1983 for example. 1983? well that was a great year as well for the U.S. hey David? Reaganomics were working just fine hey David Old Boy? Ask folks in Detroit that question.

The most recent figures for Denmark show a thriving economy set to Balance it's Budget, with a successful Public Health and welfare policy. Who started you off about Denmark David? some Guy in the Pioneer Saloon in Nevada? The Bullet holes in the roof there must be letting in too much sunlight. The Danish visitors there who left a video on YouTube had a good time tho. They must have given the wrong impression about Denmark's economy tho.

And Mallo, come on, you are not being serious when you say 'I don't know what you mean'.

2005 figures show every GM automobile had 1500 Dollars added to the price just to cover Health Care Costs for GM. The same year, GM spent more on Health Care Insurance than it did on Steel, nearly 5 Billion U.S.Dollars.

David, the Pioneer Saloon looks a great place to meet people from Denmark and chew the cud. Check out the YouTube vid.

davidk14: Thriving economy????

Chrono: Keep painting yourself into that corner...This is another article written just months ago...

Denmark raises forecast for 2011 deficit
December 14, 2010


Denmark, under pressure from the European Union to improve its fiscal position but facing an election next year, forecast a slightly bigger government deficit in 2011 than previously envisioned.

In a new budget outlook on Monday, Denmark's center-right government said it expected a 2011 public sector deficit of 4.7 percent of gross domestic product (GDP), against a previous 4.4 percent estimate made in August.

Battling rising public spending this year and an ever growing number of state employees, Finance Minister Claus Hjort Frederiksen vowed to get spending under control next year.

"It is obvious that I am also worried about the development in public spending, and it is clear that we are at the highest level in the EU, the highest level ever (for Denmark)," Frederiksen told a press briefing.

"Therefore, we can say that if the public spending growth continues, we will face a very nasty structural problem in 2030," Frederiksen said.


THE HIGHEST LEVEL IN THE EU, THE HIGHEST LEVEL EVER FOR DENMARK.

THE

HIGHEST

LEVEL

IN

THE

EU,

THE

HIGHEST

LEVEL

EVER

FOR

DENMARK

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chronology: David chill out and watch that YouTube Video about The Pioneer Saloon. It was posted by LT1400. I must say tho, those Danish Chaps must have had a lot to drink to shake hands after the local Guy spat on his so often. I do hope he does not chew tobacco.

davidk14: Chrono asked me to post this for some reason. I'm sure he will tell us why.

Malobear: "how much of Ford and GMs Income goes into paying Medical Bills?"
"2005 figures show every GM automobile had 1500 Dollars added to the price just to cover Health Care Costs for GM. The same year, GM spent more on Health Care Insurance than it did on Steel, nearly 5 Billion U.S.Dollars."

Chrono.your first statement sounds like GM and Ford directly pays for the workers medical bills,which they dont.
Then you steer the statement to the cost of a car (I would love to see where these figures came from)
Then you steer the statement to compare Insurance to the price of steel (Again,I would love to see where these figures came from).

"And Mallo, come on, you are not being serious when you say 'I don't know what you mean'."

Damn Chrono,I am no mind reader,if I was I wouldnt be wasting my time here. I would be on Wall Street making the big money.

chronology: Thanks for Posting that video I asked you to David. Actually, there are about 3 video those Guys shot at the Pioneer.

Mallo, you are joking again right? You say you would love to know where those figures came from, I found them in less than 5 minutes on the Web. Just do a search. You may like to go into a little more detail as well, like read where one industry analysis is saying he can only conclude (his P.O.V.) that the reason an Auto-plant was located in Canada recently was that the owners were frightened away from the U.S. by Medical Insurance costs.

Again, thanks for the YouTube I asked for David. If we ever meet in Phoenix, please don't spit all over your hand before shaking mine,

davidk14: .

No, however I might scratch my balls first. But I would of course wash my hands after we shook hands.

Just kidding

You've shown interest in visiting the US, especially the wild, wild west. Have you ever been here before?

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Outbackjack: I see you obviously didnt get much sleep as you seem to have woken up just as crabby David.

I was reading about the package to supposedly cut the deficit and PART OF IT INCLUDES TAX CUTS FOR BIG BUSINESS!!!!

Unbelievable!!!

So all of you need to consider that it is taking the food out of working peoples mouths and giving it to the greedy fatcat Capitalists so they can maybe afford another mansion in Malibu or Hawaii.

So what do you all have to say about that eh?

BTW David the boys down the bowling club had a good old laugh at your expense last night.Feel free to provide any more material.

Outbackjack: Tink.
We had a bloke at one of our workplaces whose wife died.

Stricken with grief he hit the bottle and started turning up drunk.
The union counselled him and the employer sent him off for assistance with his problem.He eventually returned to work and as far as i know is still there being a productive member of society.

9 out of 10 on a non union site he would have been discarded like a piece of garbage,lost his house and been a further burden to the health system or even worse,The prison system.

davidk14: .

Outback said: BTW David the boys down the bowling club had a good old laugh at your expense last night.Feel free to provide any more material.

David responds:

Glad you had a good laugh at my expense. Geez, you actually have a bowling club where you live?

I’m actually surprised you would support a business that actually makes money. It must be one of the biggest businesses in the area. And we all know how you hate big business. I’m actually shocked you would spend your hard earned money knocking down pins that costs next to nothing for the owner. His profits are huge I bet. And the beer!!! OMG! The profit margin on beer is huge!! Ripping off the public not once, but twice!!! His bottom line ROI must be huge at your and your friend’s expense. I can’t believe you allowed yourselves to be taken avantaged of.

He probably doesn’t even pay his employees medical, dental, vacation, sick leave, or other benefits. And retirement benefits? I think not.

He probably makes so much money by ripping off the customer and worse, the underpaid employee. You might need to stop supporting this greedy capitalist pig and picket this establishment. And if anybody crosses your picket line, beat the crap out of them for supporting such a tyrant.

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Outbackjack: The bowling club is owned by our community actually.If it didnt lease some local land and farmers didnt donate seed,fertiliser,labour and machinery to bring in a crop each season then the whole place would go under.

Sorry you wasted your time typing out that long rant.

davidk14: Damn

Outbackjack: Nice try.
I did actually find that post amusing though.

Outbackjack: As for the roadhouse.

No comment!

davidk14: Those Zionist pig roadhouse owners! They take and take and...

Outbackjack: I love the roadhouse.

The owner is that cheap with the food he cooks that it ensures that I rarely eat there meaning I am healthier and so is my wallet.

I feel sorry for the odd tourist who ends up there though.

davidk14: .

Does the owner do this to rip off the customer or does he do it because he believes it creates more profits? If it were me, I'd make sure the locals loved the portion sizes, the ambiance, the flavors and quality of the food, the cleanliness of the establishment which combined helps insure a base of customers which are the local population. This increases and maintains um...profits. That's just basic Restaurant 101.

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Outbackjack: What usually happens throughout most of the business's in rural Western Australia is that it is well known that goods are generally more expensive because of freight costs.Also business's usually have a complete monopoly over the entire area which in the extreme can stretch for hundreds of kilometres.Our roadhouse charges $5 for a loaf of bread,$5 for 2 litres of milk,$4 for 350ml of orange juice,$3 for a can of Coke.So you get the idea.

End result.

The city thieves descend on areas like a horde of vultures.their aim is to make as much money as they can and retire early.they rub the locals up the wrong way with their profiteering.This generally makes them hate the place even more than they normally would being city people and ill suited to the climate and too used to facilities where they live(pubs,cinemas,cafes,restaurants etc).

So most of the time it actually makes them more bitter and hostile to everyone and everything out here which is unfortunate because to us thats not what living out here is about.Its about community.There are exceptions to the rule but I have observed this all across the state.

The previous owner ran a very good operation and top class food.

davidk14: .

Sounds like the roadhouse needs a change of management. Is there enough local food suppliers such as farms, ranches and others that can provide the owner with local food to reduce the dependence of shipping in product? I worked in Hawaii where 95% or more of the food needs to be shipped from the mainland US and it's expensive. There is a huge push there to use and support local purveyors to counter the shipping costs.

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Outbackjack: I am sure that some of the local farmers would rather drive some of their cattle/sheep into a salt lake rather than sell it to the roadhouse and then see it get knocked out at heavily inflated prices.

The biggest problem is the health department and regulations regarding the slaughter of animals.Sure we all swap sheep,beef,kangaroos,eggs etc through the rural barter system but try selling it to Joe public and they will shut down the business.Apart from small vegetable gardens its just not practical to grow huge amounts of vegetables because of the lack of water.

It would be good if what you suggested happened as then we would have fresher and cheaper food.

I will give you a great example of the utter absurdity of vegetables.
There is a place called Jarrahdale in the hills about 50kms south east of Perth.They grow fine pumpkin there.It is picked then shipped by truck across the nullabor plain some 4000kms to a processing plant in Sydney where they cut it into pieces,wrap it and then send it back across the nullabor to be sold in supermarkets in Perth.

So when a resident of Jarrahdale travels to their local Woolworths to buy pumpkin it has already travelled over 8000kms!

chronology: Hey Jack. What I remember about Australian diets was the breakfasts. I never knew folks ate French Fries for Breakfast. French Fries, Steaks and Lamb Chops. As much as you could eat with Tea and Coffee. All cost next to nothing. Aussies lived like Kings at one time.

Had to give the cake to folks in the Northern Territories tho, they love nothing better than a Barbie of Road Kill Kangaroo.

Outbackjack: I have had a few brekkies like that but its usually when I am out camping or the aftermath of a party the next day.We can still have cheap meat by sourcing it ourselves.We are coming into fruit season here so its going to be unlimited fruit soon.