Swedes seem to envy Norwegians' good fortune

[Loki]

http://www.aftenposten.no/english/lo...icle638339.ece

Swedes seem to envy Norwegians' good fortune

Some Swedes apparently would rather restore a union with Norway than continue in the one they currently have with Europe. Fresh figures outlining the average wealth of Norwegians seem to have left many across the border green with envy.

This was the flag used when Norway was in a political union with Sweden in the 1800s. The union was abolished in 1905 after years of agitation among Norwegians who demanded total independence.

PHOTO: MORTEN HOLM / SCANPIX

"Let's take the horse and wagon and move to Norway!" wrote one Swede to the web site for Swedish business newspaper Dagens Industri.

"Doing away with our union (between Sweden and Norway) in 1905 was Sweden's biggest mistake ever," wrote another.

The occasion was a reader debate over figures recently released by Norway's Central Bureau of Statistics, and reported in Dagens Industri. They showed that:

• The average Norwegian over age 17 has NOK 86,200 (USD 12,300) in the bank and a stock portfolio worth NOK 89,900.
• The average Norwegian earns NOK 282,500 before tax.
• The average Norwegian has NOK 417,400 in bank loans.

Even though the average Swede earns slightly more (the equivalent of NOK 286,000) the numbers nonetheless make some Swedes think the grass is greener on the Norwegian side of the border.

"It would be better to be in a union with Ola Nordmann than with the EU," wrote another reader to Dagens Industri.

Others, however, noted that much of Norway's wealth is built on its North Sea oil, and it can run out.

"The false sense of security tied to oil revenues can come to an abrupt halt," wrote one Norwegian who opted to move to Sweden.



Aftenposten's Norwegian reporter
Svend Ole Kvilesjoe

Aftenposten English Web Desk
Nina Berglund

[Arkona]

Others, however, noted that much of Norway's wealth is built on its North Sea oil, and it can run out.

Both Norwegian gas and oil are running out. Soon they'll have to stick to usual high sea marauding to make a living

[Northern Paladin]

Both Norwegian gas and oil are running out. Soon they'll have to stick to usual high sea marauding to make a living

And for that they are going to need a Military.

[Shaun]

I thought I heard recently Norway discovered an even larger amount of oil further North than they have already.

[Northern Paladin]

I think it's vice versa. As Sweden has better lands and is way more densly populated. Most of Norway is mountainous and not a hospitable place for human settlement. The reason Norwegians are richer is there are fewer Norwegians and their land is blessed with an abudance of natural resources.

[cosmocreator]

I think it's vice versa. As Sweden has better lands and is way more densly populated. Most of Norway is mountainous and not a hospitable place for human settlement. The reason Norwegians are richer is there are fewer Norwegians and their land is blessed with an abudance of natural resources.

It is race that creates wealth. Look at Iceland -- a country with few natural resources but whose people are wealthy. Look at Zimbabwe -- a country that was doing well when whites ruled it but is now reverting to subsistent farming (or lower) that Negroes are taking over.

[Arkona]

It is race that creates wealth. Look at Iceland -- a country with few natural resources but whose people are wealthy. Look at Zimbabwe -- a country that was doing well when whites ruled it but is now reverting to subsistent farming (or lower) that Negroes are taking over.

And how's about Japan and other Asian Tigers?

[Aistulf]

Sounds interesting. Unions will be inevitable, especially in the future. Either way we'll have to unite in order to fight the, non-white, multicultural daemon that is ruining Europe as we know it!

It is race that creates wealth. Look at Iceland -- a country with few natural resources but whose people are wealthy. Look at Zimbabwe -- a country that was doing well when whites ruled it but is now reverting to subsistent farming (or lower) that Negroes are taking over.

Or any other African country and former European colony, really...

Today I was disgusted, yet again, by lies spread about South Africa in the news (about owning guns). Even now, that the whites have nothing to say there anymore, they are still blamed for almost anything :

[Northern Paladin]

And how's about Japan and other Asian Tigers?

They are another Race that seems to be capable of creating and maintaing wealth. However the technology that they utilized to fuel their economic development was borrowed from the West.

[Aistulf]

They are another Race that seems to be capable of creating and maintaing wealth. However the technology that they utilized to fuel their economic development was borrowed from the West.

Not to mention the technology they tend to "lend" :