'Not every Norwegian feels guilty but many do'
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Re: 'Not every Norwegian feels guilty but many do'
#2[deleted]
Re: 'Not every Norwegian feels guilty but many do'
#3Makes sense.
Norway's economy ever since discovery of offshore oil is similar to Saudi Arabia, Dubai or Qatar's. The difference is just that while Saudi wealth is concentrated among roughly 20,000 members of the extended royal family, Norway's is distributed across their 5 million citizens.
It would be weird if they didn't feel guilty about it. The know fossil fuels are harming the world and they know their comfortable lives are thanks to their share of the profits from extracting and selling massive amounts of fossil fuels.
Re: 'Not every Norwegian feels guilty but many do'
#4[dead]
Re: 'Not every Norwegian feels guilty but many do'
#5We're protecting the global poor by not letting them work for us is such a backwards piece of rhetoric that I'm always surprised by how casually it's brought up in stories like this.
Re: 'Not every Norwegian feels guilty but many do'
#6Norwegians are rich if you look at the average, but if you compare higher earners there vs the U.S. I would say they are actually poor. For example, take an above average software developer in the US and compare them to one in Norway - you will see a massive difference, especially in disposable income.
Re: 'Not every Norwegian feels guilty but many do'
#7Some thoughts inspired by the article and other similar discussions on privilege:
* Feelings of guilt about the economic circumstances one is born into is often mentioned. What are the limits of feeling“privilege”? Family finances, race, and gender for sure. How about intelligence? I’m assuming the crowd on HM ales higher on IQ, do you feel guilty about this? How about physical beauty (which has substantial impact) and body integrity? How about being a native speaker of English rather than spending years to learn it?
* Assuming you are recognizant of your born privileges and are grateful, where is the limit of helping others so you don’t feel guilt? If Norway gives its budget surplus to suffering 3rd world countries should its citizens still feel guilt? Should such guilt be de factor, similar to original sin, something you’re born with and couldn’t (shouldn’t?) get rid of?
I don’t have good answers to most of the above but as with many other things the more you think about privilege the more complex it becomes.
Re: 'Not every Norwegian feels guilty but many do'
#8Makes sense. Norway's economy ever since discovery of offshore oil is similar to Saudi Arabia, Dubai or Qatar's. The difference is just that while Saudi wealth is concentrated among roughly 20,000 members of the extended royal family, Norway's is distributed across their 5 million citizens. It would be weird if they didn't feel guilty about it. The know fossil fuels are harming the world and they know their comfortab…
They could follow the Canadian solution and simply allow multinationals to take the profits offshore for themselves. No need to feel guilty about wealth you don’t have!
Re: 'Not every Norwegian feels guilty but many do'
#9We're protecting the global poor by not letting them work for us is such a backwards piece of rhetoric that I'm always surprised by how casually it's brought up in stories like this.
Sure they can work for you. At the same salary as you would expect for the role. If not, why not?
Re: 'Not every Norwegian feels guilty but many do'
#10Norwegians are rich if you look at the average, but if you compare higher earners there vs the U.S. I would say they are actually poor. For example, take an above average software developer in the US and compare them to one in Norway - you will see a massive difference, especially in disposable income.
lol, so on that basis Saudi, Russia, Brunei, various Asian and African kleptocracies are also richer, because they have richer billionaires?
Sorry, it's a ridiculous argument.
Norwegians should maybe feel guilty at having had an unfair share of natural resources, but also proud that they've put it to good use for the whole of their society, and beyond.