This is a lot more than just a Norwegian’s look at Donald Trump. It’s an interesting perspective on the entire United States and its culture. From Ola Nordmann via zerohedge.com:
Despite Norwegian mainstream media and political establishment support for Hillary Clinton (They also supported Mark Rubio and Bernie Sanders when they were running), I would like to apologize for our politicians and voice my support for Trump. I believe that Americans need to think about what is at stake from lifelong socialists’ perspective. Despite what people read about Norway being the best place to live, it comes with a price. Everyone needs to mostly agree, not raising concern, even when feeling wronged. Going outside the line leads to ostracization. (It’s like being Amish in some ways.)
We are not that creative. We would like to think so, but compared to Minnesota, our American cousin (similar population, culture, and climate), we are far behind – left in the dust. Minnesota has many diverse and world class companies like 3M (Minnesota Mining and Manufacturing), Polaris (snowmobiles and motorcycles), and Medtronic (Innovative medical equipment). Our largest companies are mostly resource related: Statoil (state oil company), Telenor (our innovative phone company) and Yara (fertilizer). The government substantially owns many of them, not making them real companies that compete for their daily existence, like their Minnesota counterparts.
If you ever come to Norway, you will find around half the TV shows are American! We have Dr. Phil, NCIS, Cake Boss, Fast and Loud and so on. Our version of Cops and Storage Wars will put you to sleep. Recently, a major Norwegian media outlet launched a reality show, called Oslo S, about our central train station. The theme is bouncers and bums exchanging pleasantries – Yawn. Other shows come from Australia, Sweden and the UK. I wish we could be more American, in this regard, making our own entertainment to cover all the time slots, instead of importing it.
Our education system teaches conformity and compliance. It does not teach critical reasoning, questioning the system or exploring the media’s agenda. When you graduate, you will be unable to take charge and make a decision. (Good decisions always disappoint someone. Otherwise, the choice would not need arbitration in the first place) Instead, you will learn that everyone must be included, finding a compromise. This indoctrination process often leaves your team uncompetitive or product useless, falling short of market demands. It’s more important that everyone is happy than to remain profitable, which ensures long-term enterprise survival. The lack of confidence taught in our education system is crippling. This insecurity makes us somewhat socially retarded with foreigners. When we go abroad, we travel in groups, sticking to ourselves, not interacting with the locals. It may explain our unfriendly ranking.
Many well to do Norwegians acknowledge the systems shortcomings, opting for private education. Some even send their kids boarding schools in England and Ivy League universities in America. We have a hard time getting those kids to return home, leading us forward. Instead, they add to America’s vastness and achievements. Recently, private schools in Norway started to pick up.
Our Economy is equally as boring. After oil (65%), we sell fish and aluminum. Our Central Bank did such a wonderful job devaluing the currency, allowing the Chinese to buy our expensive water company. Many more of our unique companies are now vulnerable to foreign takeover.
Our technology sector will not save the economy after oil’s demise (at least not now). Although there are some interesting firms, doing cool stuff, they are no comparison to those in California, Boston or New York. We get good people, but America gets the best of the best, driven by a deeply human desire to succeed.
To continue reading: One “Lifelong Socialist” Norwegian’s Perspective On Trump
