Frequently, liberals argue that we should provide generous government benefits because everyone deserves them. When it is pointed out that such hand-outs destroy the work ethic, liberals scoff and claim it's just not true. Look at Sweden!
Well, we've looked at Sweden and guess what? Generous government benefits have eroded the historical work ethic of Swedes. (Via Brothers Judd)
Sweden has traditionally relied heavily on the strong protestant work ethic of its citizens. A cornerstone of the country's welfare system has been a population which has been reluctant to misuse the system. Although taxes have been high and government benefits generous, the strong work ethic has stopped people from taking advantage of the welfare state. Alas, this attitude has been largely abandoned. As time has passed, people have adapted to the system.
Dependence on state handouts is widespread amongst the adult generations. Today around 21-22 percent of the Swedish population in working age is being supported by one form government handout or another, up from around 11 percent in 1970 (as reported by Swedish Public Television 15th March 2005).
Many unemployed people are unwilling to take jobs that pay less than their former employment. The reason is that government compensation is often almost as high as their previous salaries; taking a job that pays less than their old one might very well mean lower income than the state benefit.
In a survey form the Swedish Enterprise Institute 70 percent of companies with 10-200 employees say that they interviewed who did not even want the jobs offered. This phenomenon is explained by the fact that people seek jobs that they are unwilling to take, only in order to convince public officials that they are actively seeking employment so they can continue collecting government handouts.
As widespread as government dependence is amongst adults, it might yet become worse amongst the new generation of Swedes.
In 2006 youth unemployment in Sweden was amonght the highest in the EU, fully 21.5 percent. Many young Swedes, in particular those with an immigrant background or from low income Swedish families, are becoming more and more used to the idea that it is acceptable to live off taxpayers' moneys. This is creating a phenomenon that can be described as a ”free-lunch generation”. A generation that does not clearly see the moral difference between earning something by hard work or receiving it from the state. The attitude is simply “anything that I want, I should have.”
It's not surprising at all that people raised under a gimme system would think they are owed other people's money.
We aren't talking about people unable to work because of physical or mental disability. We're talking about people who no longer find it shameful to live on the dole, but consider it their right to do so. How can anyone argue that such thinking isn't evil?
The linked article contains more jaw-dropping information on the dysfunctional Swedish system. It's worth the read.
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