Yeah I agree GDP is a silly metric in many ways. If more people get sick stuffing themselves with fast-food so they need to buy more health services GDP increases but quality of life as not really increased.

Yet, I felt the GDP issue had to be addressed as it so often pops up when I try to argue for the benefits of social democracy. I have neoliberals and libertarians trying to dismiss the Nordic experience on the grounds that America has a higher GDP.

There are of course many ways to tackle such as question. Either point out how GDP is a deeply flawed metric, or point to quality of life measurements which tends to put Nordic societies at the top. But all reponses will meet challenges. Many will simply dismiss positive life measurements with things like: But Nordics are so homogenous, with basically the racist undertone that life is so much better when everybody is white.

Never mind that most Nordic countries today are highly multi-cultural. I am Norwegian myself and 17% of the population today is foreign born. Most of my neighbours ae not Norwegian, nor the friends of my children. I work mainly with non-Norwegians. It isn't the stereotype many seem to have.

I don't know how much America has aquired of wealth from robbing other countries. But certainly taking all the native American lands and enslaving Africans has been very profitable. But perhapsmore important is the enormous resource abundance I have covered in earlier articles.