[MrTonyD]

Democratic Socialist parties have been in power in many Scandinavian countries for decades. The current systems evolved from Socialism - and Democratic Socialism really defines the modern, functioning form of Socialism -- a type of Socialism that provides a positive alternative to the unfettered Capitalism suggested by the original poster.

[lfjmfkekdk5]

The ignorance of economic systems here on HN is just unbelievable. Scandinavian countries are very pro free trade and capitalist. They have that alongside a relatively large welfare system. That is not socialism. They are capitalist with few regulations and few state owned enterprises. It's shocking how the myth continues to persist among the economically uninformed.

[eli_gottlieb]

No, that's social democracy you're thinking of.

[ende]

Democratic Socialism? You have no idea what you are talking about and have clearly received this misinformation from a Bernie Sanders talking point (bless the man, but he is has done nothing to help rectify the broken American political lexicon.). The ideology that has pervaded Nordic politics for the past decades is Social Democracy, not Democratic Socialism. There is a very significant difference.