Archive for Jytte Guteland (SSU)

A number of public services and state-owned companies have been privatized in Sweden during the last ten years – telephone operator Telia and liquor retailer Vin & Sprit to name just two. How far should Sweden go when it comes to privatization?

When it comes to privatization we are pragmatic and not ideologically driven. Sweden as a country can in many cases be a successful company owner and contribute to a positive development for the people. The jobs within state-owned companies are important for our country. It’s worth remembering that state-owned companies have profited by over SEK 20 billion per year. That’s equivalent to the entire annual child benefit costs. Thus, selling what’s paying for our welfare is not wise politics.

Healthcare consists of roughly one-tenth of Sweden’s GDP. The current government wants to increase privatization and strengthen competition within healthcare. The Red-Green alliance is mainly opposed to this. Explain your differing views!

We want Swedish healthcare to be world class. The size of your wallet or the insurance you can afford should never decide whether you will get healthcare or not. There’s no shortcut — world class healthcare needs educated staff, hospitals of the highest quality and, not least, successful medical science.

The current government has, step by step, changed the law so that we’re getting further away from equal healthcare for all. Now it’s allowed for people who have private insurance or can pay for themselves to “cut in line” in front of someone with greater medical needs. It’s also allowed to sell hospitals that we have paid for together. We want healthcare matching needs, not wallets.

Roughly one-third of Sweden’s voters have reached retirement age. Living standards differ considerably among the elderly. What needs to be done to improve life for everyone in this group?

All people are unique and have different needs and dreams. That goes for people of all ages. Therefore, our politics for the elderly is, in many aspects, as with our politics in general — we want an equal society where everyone can decide over their own everyday life.

Every year, more and more Swedes get to live to experience their 100th birthday. We are healthier and we live longer. That’s a fantastic development and proof that Sweden has a good welfare sector.

Those who are elderly today have worked hard to improve the conditions for the next generation. Now it’s their turn. When you are old you shouldn’t have to depend on relatives to take care of you — the welfare sector should be there for everyone. Therefore our Red-Green coalition prioritizes the welfare sector – there is still a great need for more personal care. Thus, the Red-Green coalition will put at least SEK 12 billion more than the Conservative government into this sector so that we can both keep existing staff and hire more.

The government Alliance has introduced tax reductions for services in Swedish households; for instance cleaning services and home renovations, in a move to facilitate lives of families where both parents work. The Social Democrats have opposed this. Why should we have these tax reductions — or why should we not have them?

Services in Swedish households are important, especially for the elderly and families with small children.

However, we don’t think that it should be financed by a tax reduction. It provides very few jobs. The result of the conservative government’s politics is that today we have 25,000 fewer jobs within our welfare sector. We believe that our taxes, instead of this tax reduction, should be invested there – in the welfare sector we all share. Today, we all pay for the tax reduction but it is mainly used by people with high incomes.

How should Sweden’s active labor market policy be developed?

A job gives you more than food on the table. It gives you self-confidence, workmates and the chance to help shape the way in which our society is built. That’s why everybody’s right to work is the most important issue of all for us, the Social Democrats. And that’s why everyone working in Sweden must be subject to the same conditions.

We want to make full-time employment a right and part-time employment a possibility. We want to create better chances of finding permanent employment and want to raise the unemployment benefit ceiling so that almost everyone will be able to receive 80 percent of their previous wage in the event of unemployment.