How Swedes and Norwegians Broke The Power of The 1 Percent' - Waging Nonvio

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of the 1 percent
by George Lakey | January 25, 2012, 10:22 pm
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A march in dalen, Sweden, in 1931.

Ongoing series
Occupy Spring
While many of us are working to ensure that the Occupy movement will have a
#AmericanAutumn
lasting impact, its worthwhile to consider other countries where masses of
people succeeded in nonviolently bringing about a high degree of democracy Sans Tar Sands
and economic justice. Sweden and Norway, for example, both experienced a Unmasking Damascus
major power shift in the 1930s after prolonged nonviolent struggle. They fired Experiments with Truth
the top 1 percent of people who set the direction for society and created the basis
for something different. Off-site / on-topic
The war of the words: Bahrain's struggle over
Both countries had a history of horrendous poverty. When the 1 percent was in
local coverage (Sada)
charge, hundreds of thousands of people emigrated to avoid starvation. Under
David Graeber: New Police Strategy in New
the leadership of the working class, however, both countries built robust and York Sexual Assault Against Peaceful
successful economies that nearly eliminated poverty, expanded free university Protestors (Naked Capitalism)
education, abolished slums, provided excellent health care available to all as a Activists to block Warren Buffetts coal trains
(Grist)
matter of right and created a system of full employment. Unlike the Norwegians,
Class issues fade from media along with OWS
the Swedes didnt find oil, but that didnt stop them from building what the coverage (FAIR)
latest CIA World Factbook calls an enviable standard of living. Environmentalists should join Occupy on May
Day (Grist)
Neither country is a utopia, as readers of the crime novels by Stieg Larsson,
Henning Mankelland JoNesbwill know. Critical left-wing authors such as Archives
these try to push Sweden and Norway to continue on the path toward more fully
Select Month
just societies. However, as an American activist who first encountered Norway as Select Month
http://wagingnonviolence.org/2012/01/how-swedes-and-norwegians-broke-the-power-of-the-1-percent/[06/May/2012 07:16:24]
a student in 1959 and learned some of its language and culture, the
achievements I found amazed me. I remember, for example, bicycling for hours Search
through a small industrial city, looking in vain for substandard housing.

Sometimes resisting the evidence of my eyes, I made up stories that accounted Recent posts
for the differences I saw: small country, homogeneous, a value consensus.
Lebanons migrant domestic workers demand
I finally gave up imposing my frameworks on these countries and learned the equal rights
real reason: their own histories. Veterans Peace Team, face to face with police on
May Day
Then I began to learn that the Swedes and Norwegians paid a price for their A sliver of good news from Guantanamo
standards of living through nonviolent struggle. There was a time when The contentious Quebecois: province-wide
Scandinavian workers didnt expect that the electoral arena could deliver the student strike enters fourth month
change they believed in. They realized that, with the 1 percent in charge, Take Back the Tract occupies Bay Area land
with seeds
electoral democracy was stacked against them, so nonviolent direct action was
A May to remember
needed to exert the power for change.
OWS marks May Day with a beatific vision and
a big march
In both countries, the troops were called out to defend the 1 percent; people After a general strike
died. Award-winning Swedish filmmaker Bo Widerberg told the Swedish story ON STRIKE
vividly in dalen 31, which depicts the strikers killed in 1931 and the sparking of Czechoslovakias two-hour general strike
a nationwide general strike. (You can read more about this case in an entry by
Max Rennebohm in the Global Nonviolent Action Database.) Categories
Actions (1311)
The Norwegians had a harder time organizing a cohesive peoples movement
Blockades (177)
because Norways small populationabout three millionwas spread out over a
Boycotts (112)
territory the size of Britain. People were divided by mountains and fjords, and
Civil disobedience (212)
they spoke regional dialects in isolated valleys. In the nineteenth century, Civilian Peacekeeping (16)
Norway was ruled by Denmark and then by Sweden; in the context of Europe Conscientious objection (10)
Norwegians were the country rubes, of little consequence. Not until 1905 did Counter-recruitment (3)
Norway finally become independent. Culture Jamming (20)
Fasts (199)
When workers formed unions in the early 1900s, they generally turned to Flash Mobs (32)
Marxism, organizing for revolution as well as immediate gains. They were Marches (296)
overjoyed by the overthrow of the czar in Russia, and the Norwegian Labor Party Occupations (169)
joined the Communist International organized by Lenin. Labor didnt stay long, Parallel institutions (17)
however. One way in which most Norwegians parted ways with Leninist strategy Protests (920)
was on the role of violence: Norwegians wanted to win their revolution through Sit-ins (286)
Street theater (56)
collective nonviolent struggle, along with establishing co-ops and using the
Strikes (329)
electoral arena.
Tax resistance (8)
Vigils (31)
In the 1920s strikes increased in intensity. The town of Hammerfest formed a
Announcements (90)
commune in 1921, led by workers councils; the army intervened to crush it. The
Conferences (21)
workers response verged toward a national general strike. The employers, Conflict resolution (16)
backed by the state, beat back that strike, but workers erupted again in the Culture (469)
ironworkers strike of 192324. Art (68)
Food (4)
The Norwegian 1 percent decided not to rely simply on the army; in 1926 they Humor (47)
formed a social movement called the Patriotic League, recruiting mainly from Journalism (31)
the middle class. By the 1930s, the League included as many as 100,000 people Literature (44)
for armed protection of strike breakersthis in a country of only 3 million! Movies (52)
Music (39)
The Labor Party, in the meantime, opened its membership to anyone, whether Performance (27)
or not in a unionized workplace. Middle-class Marxists and some reformers Philosophy (13)
joined the party. Many rural farm workers joined the Labor Party, as well as Radio (4)
some small landholders. Labor leadership understood that in a protracted Religion (72)
struggle, constant outreach and organizing was needed to a nonviolent Science (9)
Sports (12)
campaign. In the midst of the growing polarization, Norways workers launched
Technology (82)
another wave of strikes and boycotts in 1928.

Television (30)
Video games (9)
The Depression hit bottom in 1931. More people were jobless there than in any
Environment (433)
other Nordic country. Unlike in the U.S., the Norwegian union movement kept
Agriculture (46)
the people thrown out of work as members, even though they couldnt pay dues. Climate change (262)
This decision paid off in mass mobilizations. When the employers federation Mountaintop removal (4)
locked employees out of the factories to try to force a reduction of wages, the History (309)
workers fought back with massive demonstrations. Gandhi (84)
Martin Luther King Jr. (65)
Many people then found that their mortgages were in jeopardy. (Sound familiar? Vietnam War (15)
) The Depression continued, and farmers were unable to keep up payment on World War II (26)
their debts. As turbulence hit the rural sector, crowds gathered nonviolently to Militarism (397)
prevent the eviction of families from their farms. The Agrarian Party, which Afghan War (134)
included larger farmers and had previously been allied with the Conservative Conscription (4)
Party, began to distance itself from the 1 percent; some could see that the ability Iraq War (54)
Nuclear Weapons (48)
of the few to rule the many was in doubt.
Robots (28)
By 1935, Norway was on the brink. The Conservative-led government was losing Security (9)
War on Terror (29)
legitimacy daily; the 1 percent became increasingly desperate as militancy grew
Nonviolent Communication (5)
among workers and farmers. A complete overthrow might be just a couple years
Regions (1569)
away, radical workers thought. However, the misery of the poor became more Africa (196)
urgent daily, and the Labor Party felt increasing pressure from its members to Asia (410)
alleviate their suffering, which it could do only if it took charge of the Afghanistan (27)
government in a compromise agreement with the other side. Burma (23)
China (61)
This it did. In a compromise that allowed owners to retain the right to own and India (3)
manage their firms, Labor in 1935 took the reins of government in coalition with Pakistan (65)
the Agrarian Party. They expanded the economy and started public works Europe (454)
projects to head toward a policy of full employment that became the keystone of Latin America (212)
Norwegian economic policy. Labors success and the continued militancy of Middle East (535)
workers enabled steady inroads against the privileges of the 1 percent, to the Egypt (142)
Iran (61)
point that majority ownership of all large firms was taken by the public interest.
Palestine (161)
(There is an entry on this case as well at the Global Nonviolent Action
Syria (66)
Database.) North America (975)
Canada (100)
The 1 percent thereby lost its historic power to dominate the economy and
United States (951)
society. Not until three decades later could the Conservatives return to a Oceania (86)
governing coalition, having by then accepted the new rules of the game, Australia (75)
including a high degree of public ownership of the means of production, New Zealand (9)
extremely progressive taxation, strong business regulation for the public good Russia (67)
and the virtual abolition of poverty. When Conservatives eventually tried a fling Reviews (6)
with neoliberal policies, the economy generated a bubble and headed for Social justice (1100)
disaster. (Sound familiar?) Animal rights (28)
Civil rights (87)
Labor stepped in, seized the three largest banks, fired the top management, left Consumerism (19)
the stockholders without a dime and refused to bail out any of the smaller Corporations (116)
banks. The well-purged Norwegian financial sector was not one of those Corruption (63)
Death Penalty (7)
countries that lurched into crisis in 2008; carefully regulated and much of it
Democratic reform (338)
publicly owned, the sector was solid.
Economic policy (144)
Education (167)
Although Norwegians may not tell you about this the first time you meet them,
Food (23)
the fact remains that their societys high level of freedom and broadly-shared
Free speech (21)
prosperity began when workers and farmers, along with middle class allies, Gun control (9)
waged a nonviolent struggle that empowered the people to govern for the Hate crimes (3)
common good. Health care (65)
Housing (58)
Correction: In an earlier version,Henning Mankell was mistakenly referred to Human rights (13)
by the name of Kurt Wallender, the protagonist in several of his books. Immigration (121)
Incarceration (133)
Indigenous rights (37)
You like How Swedes and Norwegians broke the power of Labor (409)
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Pick-ups: The Indypendent, Common Dreams, UFOCOMES-blog (German), Nation of Poverty (45)
Change, AlterNet, Elektronske Novine (Serbian), Translated Web Race (25)
Self-determination (47)
Posted under Blockades, Corporations, Economic policy, Europe, History,
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Theory (218)
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37 Comments Restorative justice (7)
Truth (18)
Training and organizing (143)
Garrett says:
January 25, 2012 at 10:45 pm
This article was inspiring it scares me to think what is going to happen in

America we have more than 3 million its going to be a civil war compared
to them.
Reply to this comment
LRB says:
January 28, 2012 at 6:13 pm
USA POPULATION 300 MILLION PLUS NORWAY 3

MILLIONS.. USATHOUSANDS OF ETHNICS GROUPS..NORWAY
JUST A COUPLE.. DO THE MATHWE WILL HAVE A CIVIL Blogs
WAR..
Adbusters
Reply to this comment Antiwar.com Blog
Beyond the Choir
Christian Peacemaker Teams
Danger Room
LRB says:
FOR peace
Global Voices
God's Politics
GARRETIT IS YOUR COMMENT, I JUST WANTED TO
In Women's Hands
EXTEND IT A LITTLE MORE.. THANK YOU
iRevolution
It's Getting Hot In Here
Kairos Chicago
Living Nonviolence
Mobile Active
SquireOfFire says:
Mobilizing Ideas
Mondoweiss
Movements.org
Hey, this jerk has copied your article verbatim and put his own name on it
New Clear Vision
and even had the audacity to license it under a Creative Commons Nonviolence Action Network
license! http://www.commondreams.org/view/2012/01/26-3 Peace and Justice Studies Association
SIPAZ Blog
The idiot was bright enough to leave your student in 1959 sentence Tangled Web
intact, while including a picture of himself at the bottom where its very The Meta Activism Project Blog
obvious hes not over 60 years old. The Metta Blog
The Nuclear Resister
I guess these reddit comments are rightfully yours: The Understory
http://www.reddit.com/r/politics/comments/oxqxf/how_swedes_and_norwe The War Resisters League Blog
Tom Hastings
Reply to this comment Weekly News Update on the Americas
Working In These Times
Communities
Carlos says:
January 26, 2012 at 4:11 pm Haley House
Jonah House
The article at common dreams.org is attributed to George Lakey and SantEgidio
says it was originally posted here. Derp. The Catholic Worker Movement
The Simple Way
News
Antiwar.com
ZaCloud says:
Common Dreams
January 27, 2012 at 1:12 am
Democracy Now!
Earth First! Newswire
That was AFTER people slammed them for the thievery. Heres
Jadaliyya
a screenshot from before the edit:
Labor Notes
i.imgur.com/11Jbz.jpg LabourStart
Narco News
Truthout
Upside Down World
War Is A Crime
Nathan Schneider says: ZNet
Organizations
Oh, funny! That was a mistake at Common Dreams. The
thief in question is myself. They must have made a Alliance for Youth Movements
mistake because I sent them the email suggesting that Alliance of Community Trainers
American Friends Service Committee
they republish Lakeys piece:) No need to get up in arms.
Avaaz
Reply to this comment Beyond Talk
Buddhist Peace Fellowship
Canvas
Catholic Peace Fellowship
Harry Hill says:
Center for Nonviolent Solutions
Center for the Study of Strategic Nonviolent
Defense
Maybe the 99%ers ought to lighten up a bit.
Christian Peacemaker Teams
They should take some time off and celebrate a holiday. Code Pink
I could suggest: BASTILLE DAY. Creating a Culture of Peace
Critical Resistance
East Timor Action Network
Fellowship of Reconciliation
GetEQUAL
Marilyn Mehlmann says: Granny Peace Brigade
January 28, 2012 at 4:00 am Holy Land Trust
INCITE!
This is one of the best summaries Ive seen of recent Scandinavian history. Institute for the Study & Practice of Nonviolence
Thank you. My own Scandinavian career also began in 1959, in Oslo; for International Center on Nonviolent Conflict
many years Ive now lived in Stockholm. This history is not widely known International Fellowship of Reconciliation
or understood how for instance Sweden rocketed from one of the International Solidarity Movement
poorest countries in Europe to richest in the world in just half a century. Iran Labor Report
Iraq Veterans Against The War

One strong factor in Sweden was in fact the restraint of the unions and LAONF
labour movement, who held back on their more radical expectations in M.K. Gandhi Institute for Nonviolence
order to get the business sector on board in a spirit of accord. Muslim Peace Fellowship
GAPMarilyn New Tactics
Nonviolence International
Reply to this comment Nonviolent Peaceforce
Nuclear Age Peace Foundation
Organizing for Power
Rachael Batten says: Pace e Bene
Pax Christi
Peace Action
Marilyn, Id love to read a summary of that, could you point out any Peace Brigades International
Peace School
good sources of Swedish Labour history?
Peaceful Uprising
Reply to this comment PeaceJam
Rising Tide North America
Ruckus Society
SOA Watch
John says:
Students For A Democratic Society
February 1, 2012 at 6:33 am
The Albert Einstein Institution
The Metta Center
Rachel, look for the Saltsjobaden agreement from 1938.
Training for Change
From Wikipedia; Turning the Tide
United For Peace & Justice
The Saltsjbaden Agreement (sv. Saltsjbadsavtalet) is a Veterans For Peace
Swedish labor market treaty signed between the Swedish Trade Voices for Creative Nonviolence
War Resisters League
Union Confederation (sv. Landsorganisationen, LO) and the
War Resisters International
Swedish Employers Association (sv. Svenska
Arbetsgivarefreningen, SAF) on December 20, 1938,[1] that
Publications
became a model for other agreements. The rules on industrial
action has come to be regarded almost as general legal Catholic Peace Voice
principles of conflicts between the labor market forces.[2] The Fellowship Magazine
Geez Magazine
agreement cemented the Swedish social norm that the two
Global Nonviolent Action Database
sides shall conclude agreements without interference by
Peace Magazine
government.[3] The agreement is still in effect, with the latest Peace News
changes being made in 1976.[4] Peacework
The Friend
In 2007, the LO, the Council for Negotiation and Co-operation The Nuclear Resister
(sv. Privattjnstemannakartellen, PTK) and the Confederation The Sign of Peace
of Swedish Enterprise (a successor organisation to the Swedish WIN Magazine
Employers Association) began negotiations towards a new YES! Magazine
agreement at the initiative of the Confederation of Swedish
Enterprise.[1][2] The negotiations, however, were suspended in
March 2009.[5][6]
All the best John
Alan Gilchrist says:

I believe that Lakeoff neglects a decisive factor. The successful struggles

took place during the existence of the Soviet Union. Many thing, such as
socialized medicine, were possible in those years, in the space between
communism and capitalism.
It is strange that there is so little discussion of the question of why the

working class is in such terrible retreat today. What went wrong? I suggest
that the answer lies in the collapse of the Soviet Union. After all, are we to
suppose that one of the two superpowers collapsed and this would not
have a huge effect on world politics? And BTW, if the Soviet Union were
really the focus of evil in the world, as suggested by Ronald Reagan, and
that system has be eliminated, shouldnt we expect a more peaceful and
good world? Seems thats not the way things worked out.
Hkon Alstadheim says:

February 1, 2012 at 6:19 pm
The danger of a full Soviet-style revolution made a lot of non-

socialist people afraid. Whether this perceived threat mellowed the
non-socialist parties, or made them more antagonistic varied among
parties and from person to person and in differing circumstances.
Some Norwegians fought alongside the Nazis to halt the red
menace. Still, the Norwegian political climate in the 1930s was
informed by a hundred years of national liberation struggle, respect
for literacy and political debate, and slowly expanding voting-rights
over those hundred years. That expansion of voting rights was also
hard fought, though less violent. Jean-Jacques Rousseau and
Thomas Jefferson and many others deserve credit for the political
climate a literate, deliberate, well considered labor movement met in
Norway in the 1930s. Also the 1 percent, if you have to use the
term, is WAY different in a small country which had a comparatively
short way from top to bottom to begin with. I suspect size is the
single biggest difference. A lot of people across the political spectrum
knew each other, and quite a few even respected each other.
And, yes, the total number of ongoing armed conflicts is declining.

Perhaps partly because there is room for covering those conflicts in
western media now that the Soviet threat is gone.
Occupy Sweden says:

Sure Sweden is a great country but we still have the same problem as the
rest of the world. The representative democracy makes it hard for people
to get their voices heard, companies are giving money to politicians and
newspapers are not writing about things that does not benefit them (like
the Swedish occupy movement).
Sweden is a great country but we still have homeless people, social

injustice and a society that looks up to the U.S. way of doing business.
Im a part of the Swedish occupy movement and I see that there is a lot to
work on. Society is never finished with evolving.
Solidarity
http://www.occupysweden.org
http://www.occupystockholm.org
Pehr says:
No matter how you measure Sweden is always one of the countries

with the best income distribution in the world. I think
OccupyStockholm is right when he/she say that we (swedes) still
have problems but I think it is wrong to compare them with the
massive problems facing ordinary Americans.
In my opinion one of the biggest problems facing Sweden is our

spineless government and palament bending over for the US
administration passing laws practically written by the whitehouse
lobby and thinking more about the interests of US big business than
the wellbeing of the people who elected them. The world needs a
strong and fair US government run by the 99 %. The dominance of
the 1 % in the US is hurting the whole planet. A nonviolent and
peaceful replacement of the current order by a government that can
restore the American dream is the best thing that could happen to all
the people of the world.
Johnny says:
Dear Harry Hill. Your comment.. I approve.
In fact I think there will need to come a time, when a handful of the 1%, as
an example to all the rest, are shown that guillotines still work and that all
the money in the world wont protect you
There is absolutely nothing wrong with someone making money. There is

EVERYTHING wrong with using that money to influence politicians and
deregulate for your inability to be content with only millions instead of
billions. You only need so many solid gold umbrella stands, honest.
Nan Jorgensen says:

January 28, 2012 at 10:10 pm
I think that one of the comment Professor Lakey is making is that with a
lot of patience and clever tactical engagement a movement can ultimately
break the stranglehold of the plutocrats, oligarchs or ruling class. ( The
1% or the .1% according to Krugman what have you) The Occupiers
here could ultimately nonviolently prevail!
I am particularly concerned about this because I have heard feedback from

Occupy forums here and there and reactions to Naomi Wolfs blog on
Occupy Wall Street saying that violence is the next option. The more
practical and realistic option. As a history major and a perpetual student
of violent and non violent revolutions I have serious misgivings about the
future of the Occupy movement. What I would like so see happen is a
serious study of a humorous and nonviolent takeover with traction As
described in the article.
I lived in Sweden pregnant with my first child in the 80s and was deeply
impressed with the compassionate, humanitarian, and logical approach I
saw in place there ( THEY WERE HUMANS!so radically different from
the slide deeply into Reagontide in the U.S. and the greedy selfish evils
burgeoning from that.)
I want Occupiers ( including the smart passionate ones I mingled amongst

in Berkeley, signal case my recently graduating daughter) to take heart and
stay nonviolent.
starkiller says:
it has begun my friends
Anthony says:
For the USA, I think things have to get worse before they can get better. I
think theres a critical threshold that needs to be met in the misery index
before enough people take to the streets to cause the drastic shift in the
society. When the New Deal was passed 1 out of 4 people were out of work.
Were not there yet, but the ground has indeed started to shake.
JimOstman says:
Transparency is the key. When business and governments can open their
books and be transparent in their operations, life will change for all.
Dave Mills says:

I am so happy to see this article, although it does mean many hard times
ahead for the US. I have been honored to be living in Sweden for several
years 2005-2007 and have now been working again there on a project for
a US company. The people are kind and non-violent. They are

humanitarian and they live in a socialistic society where class distinction is
not so much an issue. Taxes and human compassion are high. We have yet
to learn the value of that in the US. Low taxes for the rich and very low
compassion for the poor and middle-class. But the light is starting to shine
on the dark works of the greedy rich and in time, along with some pain,
perhaps we too can enjoy a life-style like the wonderful Scandinavians.
Joe Blunt says:

Come read my blog about the principles of modern liberalism in struggle.
mbl says:
I often wish I were Swedish or Norwegian. Life in the US is pretty tough

for those of us who werent born with money or connections. We live in a
country that doesnt understand the concept of people helping each other
(oh, no! That would be socialism!)
Im afraid things will never change in this country until a huge percentage
of people are homeless or living in poverty. Americans just have a tough
time with working together, cooperating and helping each other. Our form
of deregulated capitalism has taught Americans that giving to others
somehow enables laziness, that kindness and generosity harms people by
preventing them from working and struggling to get what they want
without any help from anyone else. Its a system that teaches selfishness
and meanness, a system that has to end. It just isnt sustainable.
Chas says:
The grass is not greener quote from above Sweden is a great

country but we still have homeless people, social injustice and a
society that looks up to the U.S. way of doing business.
Susan says:
Very interesting piece as well as the comments. In Canada it seems things

are just not bad enough yet. We have a terrible right wing government
ramming through legislation to suit oil interests and other Corporate
powers that are so clearly now running the show and ruining the social
democracy (of sorts) that we used to have. It was an inspiring piece and
still I know that now the powers are transnational and it makes it harder
for an individual country to step out of the Corporate scheme of hollowing
out everything for huge profits for a tiny number of people. However, the
Occupy movement is the most hopeful thing that has come along and I
strongly support it. Lets hope the planet can survive until we turn things
around.
Wade says:
Wow! This is a concise piece of a puzzle Ive been arguing for years. I went
to school in Sweden in 4-6 Grade, and came back to the U.S. arguing for
Socialism in a country that had no clue what I was even talking about. Ive
also blogged about the moral / spiritual roots of the Union movement on
GoHuman.com a site I launched to Change the way your World Works
Finally, the book Im publishing next week will benefit from a slight
addition to tie this in to the Swedish History section I already have built
in to chapter 1. Here is the link to the facebook page about the book.
http://www.facebook.com/groups/thepeopleofthesign/
Thanks again, for a great article.
Ahr says:
Sorry to disappoint you, but as a Norwegian historian I have to modify the

story somewhat. Both Norway and Sweden have been rich for centuries by
our way of measuring wealth (but maybe not by feudal measurements),
although Norway was in a slump around 1880-1930, due to late adoption
of steam ships, modern indstry and loss of forestry industries. The 1%
never died, in Norway as shipping magnates, in Sweden as industrial
magnates. Norway became independent and a democracy in 1814, not
1905, but had a shared king with Sweden until 1905, mostly like Canda,
Australia and the UK today US revolution being one of the strong
influences (flag colours were chosen to be like the US and French).
What is true, is that the 99% is more equally distributed than most
countries, there is a system and theory called wage compression and a
high level of negotiated interest and compromise.
Indigo1967 says:
I write these words because this article do NOT reflect the truth about the
situation regarding NORWAY,
Norway has conncetions to the cabal.
Our seemingly welth is because of the oil,..and

we have invested these money in deep connections
with the cabal and their business,..and we have
also destroyed other countrys because of our oil.
The war on Libyia is one horrible exaple,
and it was an attact in the spirit of
what John Perkins is showing you
in this video. Economic Hitmen
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=n7Fzm1hEiDQ
So this article do not reflect the

accurate situation in Norway
as I understand it by now
as a highly awaken soul.
To learn more of the real story about Norway

people should seek more
into a Norwegian
Whistleblower by
the name Norvulv verbotten
and also acctually learn more about
our primeminister Jens Stoltenberg and many
of our leaders in politics, in newspapers and in media
that has been at several meetings with the bilderbergergroup.
Erna Solberg ( right wing leader ) Crown Prins Hkon among

others was at the Bilderberger meeting the 5th of june 2011
So for me as a Norwegian citizens, I do not feel that

this article telleing the truth.
TranslatedWeb says:
Hello! one of our translators has translated this article into Spanish. We
hope it to increase its spread and more people know about it. There is the
link:
http://www.translatedweb.com/es/waging-nonviolence/como-los-suecos-
y-los-noruegos-derrocaron-del-poder-al-uno-por-ciento
Greetings.
Nathan Schneider says:

Thanks so much for letting us know! We just added a link to this to

the pick-ups feature right at the end of the post.
TranslatedWeb says:
We surelly will return here often to read and translate your

work. Kind regards!
Craig Schwanke says:

STUDENTS of non-violent social, political and economic revolutions know

the movements require designated, dedicated leadership, set goals and a
commitment to non-violence for a chance to succeed. The Occupy
movement across the U.S. started out well, but the inability and at times
unwillingness to agree on a leader or even the need for one, and the
inclusiveness of groups and organizations that distracted from the primary
goals of the Occupy movement have diminished their chances of ever
achieving their goals or of even influencing the 2012 elections. Maybe the
Spring will bring a revival of Occupy, plans are already underway in cities
across the country for camps to be re-established. Occupiers and their
supporters need to seize the opportunities now to coordinate with the
unemployed, unions, homeowners facing foreclosure and Progressive
politicians to focus the American electorate on the main problem facing
our nation; it is still the economy, stupid! Unemployment, home
foreclosures and financial regulation, income inequality, tax inequality,
corporate welfare, the social contract and decreased funding of the social
safety net are all connected and how these issues are presented to
American voters will determine if we continue our descent to Third World
status or begin the restoration of the American Dream.
Simon says:
What exactly is The American Dream? (apart from a student essay

question obviously). The phrase resonates down decades and around
the world. Does it mainly comprise unrestricted possessive
individualism, consumption, human and planetary exploitation,
military invincibility etc. endlessly trying to re-brand as something
noble, altruistic and worthy of imitation and aspiration? Or are there
really some good bits that can still be retrieved?
BenL8 says:
This sentence from the article begs to be explained: to the point that
majority ownership of all large firms was taken by the public interest.
Isnt this a key part of social organization, if true?
Briana Lee says:

It is great to see that it is possible to win this fight. I think that times of
crisis are always also times of change and I want to believe that this time it
will be change to better world. It is sad that science is evolving so fast,
while society is still pretty much the same as hundreds years before.
kevin kolb says:

March 17, 2012 at 2:11 pm
corned beef and cabbage

Wow! I love this spunky Article
mega millions
BeRealistic says:
March 25, 2012 at 6:18 am
The difference between them and the United States is that they were all
civilized white people. That, sadly, is not the case here.
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A march in dalen, Sweden, in 1931.

through a small industrial city, looking in vain for substandard housing.

another wave of strikes and boycotts in 1928.

This article was inspiring it scares me to think what is going to happen in

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USA POPULATION 300 MILLION PLUS NORWAY 3

Iraq Veterans Against The War

All the best John

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Alan Gilchrist says:

I believe that Lakeoff neglects a decisive factor. The successful struggles

communism and capitalism.

It is strange that there is so little discussion of the question of why the

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Hkon Alstadheim says:

The danger of a full Soviet-style revolution made a lot of non-

And, yes, the total number of ongoing armed conflicts is declining.

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Occupy Sweden says:

Sweden is a great country but we still have homeless people, social

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No matter how you measure Sweden is always one of the countries

In my opinion one of the biggest problems facing Sweden is our

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Dear Harry Hill. Your comment.. I approve.

There is absolutely nothing wrong with someone making money. There is

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Nan Jorgensen says:

I am particularly concerned about this because I have heard feedback from

I want Occupiers ( including the smart passionate ones I mingled amongst

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it has begun my friends

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Dave Mills says:

a US company. The people are kind and non-violent. They are

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Joe Blunt says:

Come read my blog about the principles of modern liberalism in struggle.

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I often wish I were Swedish or Norwegian. Life in the US is pretty tough

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The grass is not greener quote from above Sweden is a great

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Very interesting piece as well as the comments. In Canada it seems things

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Thanks again, for a great article.

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Sorry to disappoint you, but as a Norwegian historian I have to modify the

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Our seemingly welth is because of the oil,..and

So this article do not reflect the

To learn more of the real story about Norway

Erna Solberg ( right wing leader ) Crown Prins Hkon among

So for me as a Norwegian citizens, I do not feel that

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