SEATTLE NEWS ARCHIVES & FEATURES

Trouble in socialist paradise

Sep 13, 2018, 5:07 AM

socialist...

(AP Photo/Charlie Riedel)

(AP Photo/Charlie Riedel)

The left regularly cites the Nordic nations as proof that socialism works but a new report from the Happiness Research Institute in Copenhagen shows trouble in paradise. Young people in Finland, Norway, Denmark, Iceland and Sweden show a sharp recent rise in “poor mental health” and the New York Times ran a recent headline proclaiming “Gloom in World’s ‘Happiest’ Nations.”

Clinical depression in Sweden increased by 20 percent in just 10 years, while younger generations in Denmark report alarming levels of loneliness. In recent Swedish elections, angry voters gave right-wing parties almost double the support won by parties of the left, another indication that Scandinavia hasn’t achieved socialist nirvana.

In fact, each of these countries still run mixed economies, where free markets play an important role, and recent trends should dull the left’s enthusiasm for their purported Nordic utopias.

Please follow our Community Guidelines

Foreign Minister Thorgerour Katrín Gunnarsdottir of Iceland speaks during the 81st session of the ...

Associated Press

Small bites from the UN: Canada’s wider view, one chaotic rumor and reframing someone else’s words

UNITED NATIONS (AP) — China and Russia got their turns to speak at the United Nations on Saturday, but that wasn’t call. Watchers from across the globe could find news that affected their lives at the U.N. General Assembly meetings. Here are a few moments: ___ Redefining Netanyahu’s words The foreign minister of Iceland, Thorgerdur […]

9 minutes ago

Members of the Krewe of Dolly lead a second line parade in commemoration of the life of Dolly Parto...

Associated Press

New Orleans celebrates Dolly Parton Day, in photos

NEW ORLEANS (AP) — Fans in New Orleans celebrated Dolly Parton Day, declared in honor of the late country music icon, on Sept. 25. There was music, colorful tributes and plenty of Dolly-inspired style, as they joined communities around the country in honoring the widely beloved Parton. ___ This is a photo gallery curated by […]

2 hours ago

FILE - The OpenAI logo is displayed on a cell phone in front of an image generated by ChatGPT's Dal...

Associated Press

OpenAI pauses training of latest models after agents probed US government sites in unexpected ways

NEW YORK (AP) — OpenAI said it has paused training of its latest artificial intelligence models as reports of AI agents going rogue mount. The decision to halt development came just hours after the company disclosed Friday that it was reviewing several incidents from the summer in which OpenAI agents searching federal government websites acted […]

3 hours ago

Associated Press

Texas city council candidate who protested ICE shooting faces ‘riot participation’ charge

AUSTIN, Texas (AP) — A Texas city council candidate was arrested Saturday morning on a misdemeanor charge for “riot participation,” a week after he was part of a protest against the shooting of a Venezuelan man by a federal immigration officer. Public jail records do not specify the date of Misael Ramos’ alleged rioting, but […]

5 hours ago

Foreign Minister Abdul Mateen of Brunei speaks during the 81st session of the United Nations Genera...

Associated Press

They said it: Leaders at the UN, in their own words

UNITED NATIONS (AP) — Many leaders saying many things about many topics that matter to them, to their regions, to the world: That’s what the U.N. General Assembly invariably produces each year. And each year, certain voices dominate. Here, The Associated Press takes the opposite approach and spotlights some thoughts from leaders who might have […]

6 hours ago

Associated Press

Hurricane Nolo expected to unleash powerful winds, flash flooding on Hawaii

HILO, Hawaii (AP) — Heavy rain and powerful winds are expected to bring flash floods and extreme surf to the Hawaiian Islands over the weekend as Hurricane Nolo bears down on areas still recovering from previous storms. Nolo was churning slowly south of Hawaii’s Big Island on Saturday with maximum sustained winds of 105 mph […]

8 hours ago

Trouble in socialist paradise