LostInTheWoods

When discussing the welfare state, here, and indeed in the UK, the notion of people sponging of the state and not contributing to society always comes up, and usually as a reason for not having a welfare state at all. But there are differences between the two countries, and it is down to attitude.

Now, my experience of the welfare state here in Sweden is limited, but from what I have gathered is that the Swedes treat the welfare state as a safety net, and nothing more. All the Swedes I know work, and I think what under-pins this is the streak of independence that runs through nearly all of them. If you happen to lose your job, you know that your family life will not be under threat. Without this sense of independence, yes, you could have a nation of beer drinking, daytime television watching, sofa slugs... but that is not what I see, I am sure they exist, but I cannot think of a single I have heard about or met.

Oh, yes, this does lead me onto about the Swedish sense of independence. You hear often children saying “Jag kan själv!” (“I can do it myself!”), and this permeates into adulthood. Anybody who lives with a Swede can testify to this. If Ren cannot undo a jar, and I offer, I get an earful of “Jag kan själv!” and she starts attacking it with a table knife, and after a bout of scary contortions, the vacuum is destroyed and the contains are set free...

This is a trivial example, but I experience in small ways every day, displaying independence and also contributing to the group, but not in a way to draw attention to themselves. I love this attitude, and I wish I would see more of it in my time in the UK.

I also consider myself an independent person, and have only been unemployed once (never again..)

PERSONAL HISTORY WARNING: “Signing on” every week was a humiliating experience, and each time you signed to receive your unemployment benefit, you are asked the question “Have you been looking for work?”, and I often wondered if any dunce ever answered in the negative.

Anyhow, one day I couldn't stand the humiliation any more, so I crossed the road outside of the unemployment office and signed on at a job agency.

After several weeks working for a plastic moulding company (making door handles for Ford Fiestas) I ended up packing pills for a pharmaceutical company. So my gradual rise from unemployment to where I find myself today had started. In nine years my hourly rate rose eight fold, so I strongly believe that there are always opportunities to work, maybe not doing what you want, but you have to start somewhere so you can strive to get where you want to be.

Speech over....

So in this post I have swung from a lefty welfare state apologist to a “get on your bike” Tebbit supporter.... I am more politically confused than I thought.

Thank you for reading this post.

That is all.

LostInTheWoods