A Declaration of Policy to the Electorate

[Gustaf]

Migrendel. I don't think so.  Nationalization would lead to collapse of economy and Finnish socialists in Left Alliance know that. (Maybe there is few left, who didn't realise that yet.) In other hand Social Democrat Party hasn't have real intrest about nationalization since 40's. They support free market economy (and so does Left Alliance) with strong social security and strong trade unions. In other hand also centrist and rightwing parties support welfare state with less taxes and transfer of incomes of cource. It's also interesting that most whitecollar unions is led by members of conservative National Coalition Party! Gustaf: How that thing is in Sweden?

Comments about that also from others!

In Sweden, all unions are led by members of the SAP, Labour Party, even SACO, the academics organisation, lawyers, doctors, etc. is led by a Social Democrat.

[Gustaf]

In other hand there is strong conservative business wing in Finnish National Coalition Party, which support  reduction of labour market's regulation.  

Yes, we have that in Sweden as well. But after the recent referendum campaign and bussiness scandals, the employer's organisation, SN, has become a laughing stock. They ran the worse election campaign in world history, I believe.

[Gustaf]

I don't recall any economy that fell apart because of nationalization. One is tempted to say the Soviet Union, but I remind those people that the standard of living dramatically after the fall of the Czar and Kerensky, and since the fall, deprivation has increased and industrial productivity has declined. I suppose much of the resistance to nationalization is a fear of change, but the economy isn't working as it stands. We can only stop the problems that exist by trying new solutions, so I would advise those who denounce Socialism to either help us remake the economy, or put up with unemployment, unfair trade practices, and deprivation.

Russia was being modernized under the Czar and living standards were on the rise. Lenin's economic policy crippled the Soviet Union, and he had to allow private enterprises again (NEC, New Economic Policy). Stalin went back to the old theory and forced a drastic reform of Russia which led to the death of millions.

France in the 80s, is, I believe, an example of a country that suffered severly after trying to nationalize the bank system. But economies seldom fall apart, since you stop well before things get that far. But successfull nationalisation is hard to find examples of.

[Gustaf]

Sweden is usually thought of as a socialist country, and as far as I'm aware the SAP never attempted to nationalize everything that moved.

I happen to think that certain industries (eg. mining and extraction) should be "co-operatized", as co-operatives:

a) work well
b) are more socialist than mass nationalization

Well, the concept of "löntagarfonder", "employeefunds" caused a heated debate in Sweden in the 70s and 80s, I believe it was. The idea was that part of employer's wages would be invested into the companies they worked for, thus gradually putting all private enterprises under union control. It was introduced, but later abolished. The issue revived the Swedish right and hurt the left in many elections. Nowadays, it's unthinkable for the SAP to propose something like that, but the socialists still argue for such things.

[Gustaf]

If man is greedy and selfish, let us purge our hearts of avarice.

Avarice...another complicated Latin word from Migrendel then... (means greed btw....)

"Pecunia avaritiam non sanat"