U.S.A. - You could be better.
Before you start reading this, please don’t think that I’m an anti-liberty extremist. I have a love/hate relationship with the US. I love it because of the great music and culture its given to the rest of the world, but I hate it for making me care about its somewhat broken society.
We once had an american exchange student back in my home town. A super nice girl, nothing wrong with her really, but one thing she said will stick with me forever. We were discussing that higher education is free for swedes and she asked “Well, that sounds nice, but how do you make sure that the right people are selected?”.
Apparently the upper class were more right, as they could afford it.
I actually find it funny how the americans I’ve met talk about freedom, seeing that the one they have is very shallow. Yes, they’re free to choose what to do, but being born into a poor family in the US is quite the opposite to freedom. No chance in hell that you can choose to go to collage. You are given the chance to make your own choices, but you can’t afford making them.
I would argue that we swedes have more freedom than americans. Sure, we have higher taxes in every aspect, but regardless of who you are, what class you’re born into, your religion or your gender, you’ll still be worth as much. We’re also a little too accepting of gays, according to Westboro Baptist Church who as a protest created the “God Hates Sweden”-campaign.
To a swede like me it’s weird that the US aren’t the same. “Should gays be able to marry?” and “Should a woman be free to abort a pregnancy?” are two dumb fucking questions to ask in the land of freedom, I.M.H.O.
P.S. Sweden also have free education (even the higher levels) and we’re ranked as one of the best countries in the world to live in. We’re also one of the most Socialist countries out there. Still better dead than red?
