So who does a Liberal vote for in Sweden?
The word ‘Liberal’ can mean different things for different people. In the US it has an entirely different meaning than it does in Europe. Some people say a true Liberal is someone who is sometimes ‘left’ sometimes ‘right’. I think its hard to classify people within the context of left and right today.
Personally for me, being a Liberal means believing in a system which gives freedom to the individual and gives the individual the tools to make the best for themselves. Many Conservatives also believe in this but I feel my version of liberalism moves away from the conservative mantra that everyone should look after themselves. In the real world this cant happen and whilst I believe we need a society based on the individual I recognise there needs to be a safety net for others. Something Thatchers Conservatives didnt really believe in.
In the UK there is only one liberal Party, in Sweden, there seems to be three. The most obvious is the Folkpartiet Liberalerna the Liberal Peoples Party, Centerpartiet – The Center Party and the Moderaterna – the Moderates.
I have read all three websites as best I can and they all seem to be saying similar liberal things. I am naturally drawn to Folkpartiet because a) I like what Björklund says about education and b) they are the original liberal party.
The last bus home - free for young people. Thats pragmatic liberalism that is!
The Center Party are also saying some good things. I particularly like what they say on small businesses and entrepreneurs but I have difficulty with the fact that they come from an agrarian background. My version of liberalism doesnt look at classes, professions or social standing but at the individual.
Maud Olofsson, Leader of Centerpartiet
I would never have thought I would include a ‘moderate’ Party in a list of ‘liberal’ choices, but reading the Moderate website they do also touch on some important issues. I also think their leader and Sweden’s Prime Minister is doing a great job. My only issue with the Moderates is how many of their bloggers cite Thatcher as their political hero and the fact that they have links with that twerp David Cameron.
Moderaterna
Anyway, why should I be bothered? Not like I have a vote is it? Well actually I do. In the European Elections this year, every EU Citizen has the right to vote. I can vote back in England or in Sweden.
I will vote here in Sweden because this is where I live and pay tax, I feel its only right.
I am going to send the above to the 3 Parties mentioned above and see if they can help me with my problem of which ‘liberal’ party to vote for.
I will say this though. Its great to be abroad and know very little about the Parties. Its far more interesting to look at Parties on their merit and what they are saying rather than on history, personalities, family trend of voting, there is no political ‘baggage’ here and I have to be open minded on each. But what about the Social Democrats I hear you say? Well in my book the Red Groans are not in any way Liberal, in fact they stand for everything that I dont. They think they can run my life better than I can myself. Nej tack Mona!
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{ 4 comments }
Politically, I totally agree with your view. In the 19:th century
when capitalists started to build swedish industry we saw the same abuse as we see today in the developing countries. Bad management of the labour forces, low salaries, long working hours, bad health and no insurance.
And so, consequently the uprising started. The fight for better working conditions. The unions and the Social Democratic party (S) went hand in hand. But it didn´t stop a that. Sadly, the Party (S) became the new oppressors. By taxing the sheaple and giving it back as benefits they created a populace, totally dependent on the party. ‘If you don’t vote for us, you will loose all the benefits’.
And by the decades of S rule, people became complacent, lazy and began to view everything as rights and no obligations. They started to ‘use’ the system. To find loopholes where it was more profitable not to work than to work.
In my opinion the S party was okey up to the time of Tage Erlander. But when Olof Palme came on the scene, everything has been downhill from there. With him the what I call ‘ugly’ politics started. Creating a sense of guilt and request for gratitude. Look what we have done for you! A kind of ‘Don’t let us down strategy’. Talking about solidarity with the working class but in action benefitting the wealthy instead. The Elite is dead, long live the Elite.
Today it’s all about alliances. Red against blue. I think Folkpartiet is the most genuine liberals and that would be your choice. But they all have to compromise to keep the alliance together and stay in power.
Fingers crossed
Thanks Hasse.
I agree with your assessment. The British Labour Party used to behave very much the same way in their heartlands, certainly in South Wales where they never used to count the Labour vote but weigh it. Things have started to
change a little but when faced with the choice of Labour or Conservative then I would still rather Labour than the Tories. Not that I like either of them.
I did think I was more folkpartiet but looking at the Moderates Stockholm page I was quite impressed with some of their aims http://www.moderaterna.net/
Of course I am sure someone from Fp or Center would have a different view on this.
Again though as I wrote in the post, its quite nice to read about Parties without historic cynicism.
The ultimate party doesn’t exist.
I want the hospitals to be like in the UK (NHS)-
Low taxes.
So I want a party of some socialist ideas and some liberal ideas.
The thing is though Dennis how do you pay for the hospitals with low taxes in a faltering economy?
I support the NHS 100% but I also think those that can afford to should choose private medical care, at let the NHS look after those who cant afford medical attention.
Incidentally whilst Labour and Aneurin Bevan who claim to be the architects of the NHS, it was actually the Liberals. Same with pensions it was Lloyd George who brought that in.
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