Social Democracy is the political system used in Norway, Sweden, Denmark, Finland, Iceland, Holland and in part by most other advanced nations such as France, Germany, Switzerland, Belgium.
The UK under Westminster rule instead primarily follows the failed American model of unregulated capitalism, with some limited social nets.
Social Democracy’s primary goal is to provide a very strong social net for every citizen in the entire country.
In wealth equality, in healthcare, in housing and social care. Also in democratic freedom and strong employment and tenancy laws.
Social Democracy has been so successful a political system that these countries listed above are among the wealthiest and also annually top the listings of the happiest and most socially well being of all countries.
The people of these countries are not poor and uncared for. Their wealth inequality is the lowest in the world.
Their pensions and unemployment benefits are very much higher than in the UK. Zero hours contracts are completely illegal, and even unthinkably uncivilised. Everyone can get a government house inexpensively.
Disabled people who cannot work are properly cared for.
These countries can afford all this because the wealth of the country is shared among the population. And these countries are not swimming in oil and wind energy natural resources, as Scotland and Norway are.
The primary goal of these societies is that all citizens lead a high quality and secure life. Everyone’s life quality is improved together. Both rich and poor alike as financial security rises and thus crime and drug abuse falls, and healthcare and public infrastructure improves.
The entire country as a whole enjoys the benefits of the country’s wealth.
This has been established and proven in all the countries listed above. They always top the annual world rankings of citizen happiness. Far, far above the UK. (The UK holds position 20 on this list.)
All of Scotland’s independence political parties are, and always have been, in agreement that this Nordic model of Social Democracy is the right and best political system for an independent Scotland, which has a huge amount of natural resources and only a very small population to share them among.
What Is Social Democracy?
The political system of Social Democracy has been wildly successful everywhere it has been established.
Essentially it is a fully democratic system which prioritises the equality of its citizens and the quality of their lives. It does this by ensuring that wealth inequality is regulated and individual rights and needs are supported.
Social Democracy recognises that it is the entire citizenry who own the country’s wealth, not a ruling elite who have the connections to exploit a corrupt system. In these authentically democratic societies there is no class system.
Political representation is assured for all by the use of proportional representation in elections, which results in broad coalition governments able to undertake long term national planning, rather than the autocratic UK style of government by extreme minority governments concerned mainly with being re-elected.
(Westminster’s ruling government currently represents
22% of UK citizens).
Characteristics of Social Democracy.
Social Democracy can best be described as ‘Capitalism
with a compassionate heart.’ It is a system designed to
benefit a whole population, and especially the poor and
average citizenry, rather than a small wealthy ruling class or corporate interests.
Here is how Wikipedia defines its main aspects:
A capitalist market system.
An elaborate social safety net, in addition to public
services such as free education and healthcare
under a tax funded system.
Very strong social housing policy.
Strong property rights, contract enforcement and
overall ease of doing business.
Universal public pension plans.
Strong human rights, workers’ rights, tenants’ rights.
Public utilities and some industries are state-run or
state owned.
This includes, nationalised healthcare, electricity and gas,
water, mail, national railways and bus transportation, free television and radio, national airlines.
Corporations are fully taxed rather than avoiding tax by
manipulating government policy via lobbying and the
financial corruption of politicians.
There are low levels of general corruption and corporate
lobbying generally under Social Democracy.
High levels of democracy.
Very low income inequality.
Low crime due to general widespread economic
security
Free trade economic openness combined with little
product market regulation.
Nordic countries rank very high in product market freedom according to OECD rankings.
Very high public spending on public issues; (health,
housing, pensions, social infrastructure, life quality).
Public expenditure for health and education is significantly higher in Denmark, Norway, and Sweden etc in comparison to the OECD average.
High quality, secure public administrative jobs.
Many of these nations are already wealthy enough to be
moving to a 4 day work week.
Government by Proportional Representation. This
leads to coalition governments in which all of a population has some parliamentary representation.
The Nordic Social Democracies ranked highest on the metrics of real GDP per capita, healthy life expectancy, social connection, perceived freedom to make life choices, generosity and freedom from corruption.
The Nordic countries place in the top 10 of the United Nations World Happiness Reports with Finland and Norway taking the top two spots in most years.
This Is what Scottish Independence is for.
A far higher quality of life for every single Scot in Scotland.
