Being a metalhead is a disability in Sweden

[adaher]

http://www.thelocal.se/7650/20070619/

A Swedish heavy metal fan has had his musical preferences officially classified as a disability. The results of a psychological analysis enable the metal lover to supplement his income with state benefits…

“I have been trying for ten years to get this classified as a handicap,” Tullgren told The Local.”I spoke to three psychologists and they finally agreed that I needed this to avoid being discriminated against.”

Roger Tullgren first developed an interest in heavy metal when his older brother came home with a Black Sabbath album in 1971. Since then little else has mattered for the 42-year-old, who has long black hair, a collection of tattoos and wears skull and crossbones jewelry.

 

[adaher]

The dumb part about this(other than the obvious) is that the image is not nearly as important as it used to be. I go to metal shows and most of the people look like normal, everyday people you'd find working in a cubicle. Heck, a goodly portion of metal ARTISTS look like that nowadays. We all listen to metal and live normal lives, what's this guy's malfunction that he needs long hair? And when were tattoos ever particularly metal? I associate tattoos more with basketball, punk, and the porn industry than with metal.

 

[Pellaz]

With the number of metalheads and metal bandmembers in Sweden, that government's budget is in a HEAP of trouble.

 

[booB]

Not to turn this into a political thread....


... but I'm gonna anyway. THIS is why we need not follow in Europe's socialist-leaning footsteps.

 

[AeonicSlumber]

I associate tattoos more with basketball, punk, and the porn industry than with metal.

What?

 

[AeonicSlumber]

THIS is why we need not follow in Europe's socialist-leaning footsteps.

Yeah, higher quality of life, excellent healthcare. Who needs that? Damn commie bastards.

 

[booB]

Yeah, higher quality of life, excellent healthcare.

LOL!

 

[MartinW]

This article is four years old.

Yeah, higher quality of life, excellent healthcare. Who needs that? Damn commie bastards.

You have no idea how badly I am suffering here in Sweden. It's the worst kind of socialist dystopia. Just the thought of not having to pay tuition or any other fees for my university education makes me sick with disgust. Every night I dream of Ron Paul, arriving on a majestic white steed called Liberty. He smiles at me, then reaches down to take my hand in his. And together, we ride towards the Sunset of Freedom.

 

[AeonicSlumber]

haha okay, that post was fucking awesome.

 

[AeonicSlumber]

LOL!

Yeah, laughing at science, data, facts, etc. Makes sense.

 

[booB]

Yeah, laughing at science, data, facts, etc. Makes sense.

If by science, you mean pseudoscience, and data and facts, you mean opinion, then yes.

Otherwise, if you were to do some reading (instead of just trolling as usual) you would realize that the actual data does not support socialism as a viable method of running an economy.

 

[AeonicSlumber]

Didn't know the WHO were pseudoscientists. I said higher quality of life and better healthcare. I said nothing about economics. Way to infer randomosities.

But that being said, it's common knowledge that Scandinavia is an extremely wealthy territory. Their economies are in no trouble, what the hell are you talking about? In fact, actually they are doing way better than most other European countries like Greece and that's indicative of how bad the Euro is right now. Scandinavia doesn't use the Euro though, they use crowns. I have never met a single Swede, Finn, or Danish person hate their healthcare system or social programs. In fact, I've known several who worked here in the States and rather than pursue a green card, go back home and not come back because of how absurd our healthcare system is. Oh and by the way, our system is TOTALLY the right way to do things. Our economy fucking rules right now bro. Going to war for no reason, letting the market run unregulated -- A+ will do business with again.

They don't mind paying taxes to support social programs for everyone. It's called caring about other people. And guess what? When they hurt themselves, get sick, or get fired/laid off, they don't have to worry about losing their lives or having to pay exhorbitant premiums to insurance companies or having to sell your car cause you don't have health insurance. Also, last time I checked, Sweden has a great capitalistic system as well, ever heard of IKEA? What? Does the Swedish parliament run that company? lol

Oh, lol at me being a "troll". Lrn2internet.

 

[OrbWeaver]

While I think it's pretty nice that education and many other things are free in Sweden, Norway, etc...I have to ask...how are your taxes? What percentage of your income do you have to pay to the government so they can fund these "free" pursuits?

 

[Pellaz]

Pretty high: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Taxation_in_Sweden

Meanwhile, in the U.S., 48% of all filers have no income tax liability at all.

 

[AeonicSlumber]

While I think it's pretty nice that education and many other things are free in Sweden, Norway, etc...I have to ask...how are your taxes? What percentage of your income do you have to pay to the government so they can fund these "free" pursuits?

Very high, but like I said, to them it's absolutely worth it because, they actually care about other human beings, unlike the seflish, anti-altruistic libertarian philosophy that plagues this country's mentality.

Also it's cheaper to pay a tax than to get slapped with a 150,000 k bill for not having health insurance. People don't have to worry about selling their cars, or going into massive credit debt and not being able to get loans for school next semester, etc. It's also cheaper to pay the tax than it is to pay for most health insurance premiums over here, and far less bureaucratic than the health insurance companies over here. Most people who disagree with this A) get their "facts" from right wing or libertarian groups that get paid by health insurance companies and not from actual scientific sources, or B) have never legitimately met or befriended someone from a country with successful social programs, or have never left America.

I apologize for offending anyone, and I don't like airing my personal issues over the internet, but this issue is very personal to me.

 

[MartinW]

While I think it's pretty nice that education and many other things are free in Sweden, Norway, etc...I have to ask...how are your taxes? What percentage of your income do you have to pay to the government so they can fund these "free" pursuits?

They are the second highest in the world, and most people don't mind. Either we are all brainwashed, or maybe we just think that the benefits are worth it. It's not like we're not aware that our taxes are high. We just prefer it. AeonicSlumber got it right, basically.

I wouldn't do anything to make Sweden more like the USA. Especially not right now when our economy is in better shape.

edit) And Denmark, which has the highest taxes in the world (at least they did recently) is also at the top of this list of social mobility, as well as considered more economically free than the United States, according to a conservative American think tank.

 

[Lars/Intromental]

Yepp - we lead the global tax crusade here in Denmark..

We're proud of our system, even if it has its flaws.

I am not one to point fingers at anyone, but the US debt is actually growing with 50.000 dollars - every second!!!!!!!!!!!!!! That to me shows, that something is not right. I think you could do with a strong revision on that matter.

Later,

Lars

 

[Cheiron]

The U.S. has plenty of issues. Taxation is just one component of reducing freedoms, and while Denmark and Sweden do a lot of it, they do well in other areas. Still, they are very fragile economies, and their models are not extensible to a country like the United States.

Healthcare is never 'free' to all, its a matter of who ought to be paying for it, and if one has the right to force another to pay for their healthcare. I don't believe that one has this right. I believe in freedom. I believe in high degrees of charity, but that it should never be forced.

 

[spag]

Of all the things the govt collects taxes for, the health and education of it's citizens should be at the top. A country is as strong as it's people, and you only have to look around and see what kind of shape we're in.

 

[Justin G]

The U.S. has plenty of issues. Taxation is just one component of reducing freedoms, and while Denmark and Sweden do a lot of it, they do well in other areas. Still, they are very fragile economies, and their models are not extensible to a country like the United States.

Healthcare is never 'free' to all, its a matter of who ought to be paying for it, and if one has the right to force another to pay for their healthcare. I don't believe that one has this right. I believe in freedom. I believe in high degrees of charity, but that it should never be forced.

How does paying for stuff we all use (i.e. infrastructure) translate to reducing freedom?