May I have the list of such countries with a level of prosperity comparable to the US (which seriously consider an $85k tax-free minimum wage)?
Your "everything is still thriving" on paper turns out to be "everyone except the elite is drowning in poverty and they can't complain about it because then their totalitarian government will declare them terrorists or something" in practice. All the time.
California is the only state I’ve visited in the US, but I would say Scandinavians are wealthier on average/higher quality of life.
I'm not even surprised.
Socialist politics are extremely good at ensuring a high standard of living for the elite and shutting everyone else up. Look at any North Korean media outlet (of two or however many) - they're the best in the world, and everyone else is envious of them.
European social democratic politics are usually characterized by the opposite outcome, where high taxes and redistribution means the top 10% is much closer to the average Joe than in ultra capitalist countries. Less inequality in general.
> Look at any North Korean media outlet
If you seriously compare NK to any country in Europe, you have no clue, sorry.
No. Look at the median salary of a full-time worker in Europe and compare it to the US. They are drowning in poverty.
> top 10% is much closer to the average Joe
No. In the US top 10% full-time workers get you what? About 300k? It is way closer to the average US Joe than Europe has it's top 10% to their average poor workers. There is more inequality in Europe than in the US.
> If you seriously compare NK to any country in Europe, you have no clue, sorry.
Why? Because you chose to trust European propaganda and not North Korean propaganda? Ask those who chose to trust North Korean propaganda what they'd tell you.