 others living outside of the region would think that.
Sweden is very good at only extolling her perceived "virtues" and sweeping the
rest under the rug. Waaaay under the rug.

There is a real moral and intellectual superiority among many Swedes that I
find deeply distasteful. From environment to politics to how to bag your
groceries, and yes--even close a door properly, the "Swedish way" is always
promoted as the only "right way."

~~~
dijit
Out of curiosity where do you live? Perhaps this is a regional thing but down
here in Skane people are very humble about being Swedish, almost as if they
are ashamed of some sort of history.

They certainly wouldn't describe something as "the Swedish way" unless it was
something about how the police are ineffective due to bureaucracy or something
similar.

~~~
kalleboo
It seems a lot more complicated than either your view or the grandparents. If
you watch Fredrik Lindströms "Världens Modernaste Land" it explores the
question of the conflicting Swedish self-image pretty well (and the history of
how it became what it is today), but I wouldn't know how to summarize it in a
Hacker News comment.

------
ersii
There seems to be plenty here that like the idea of lowering the Value Add Tax
on repairs. Let me ask: Why stop at 12.5% VAT for repairs? If you'd go all the
way down to 0% - the repairs could potentially be up to 25% cheaper than they
are now.

~~~
sliverstorm
Perhaps if they make repair _too_ sweet, abuse will skyrocket asymptotically.

Or, perhaps it transforms from "incentive" to "subsidy".

------
semi-extrinsic
What we really need is financial penalties on companies that make stuff
deliberately hard to repair. Set up a department of the Consumer Rights Bureau
(or whatever it's called) where people can report devices the've been unable
to fix due to deliberate obfuscation/etc., and that forces manufacturers to
refund the consumer the entire purchase sum of that device no matter how old
it is.

Anecdote: my washing machine recently broke the main bearing, and I was going
to fix it.
others living outside of the region would think that. 
 Sweden is very good at merely laud her perceived " virtues " and sweep the 
 respite under the rug. Waaaay under the rug. 

 There is a real moral and cerebral superiority among many Swedes that I 
 find profoundly disgusting. From environment to politics to how to bag your 
 groceries, and yes -- even close up a door properly, the " Swedish direction " is always 
 promoted as the only " right way. " 

 ~~~ 
 dijit 
 Out of curio where do you live? Perhaps this is a regional thing but down 
 here in Skane multitude are very humble about being Swedish, almost as if they 
 are ashamed of some kind of history. 

 They certainly wouldn't trace something as " the Swedish way " unless it was 
 something about how the police are ineffective due to bureaucracy or something 
 like. 

 ~~~ 
 kalleboo 
 It seems a lot more complicated than either your view or the grandparent. If 
 you watch Fredrik Lindströms " Världens Modernaste Land " it explores the 
 question of the conflicting Swedish self - image pretty well (and the history of 
 how it became what it is today), but I wouldn't know how to summarize it in a 
 Hacker News comment. 

 ------ 
 ersii 
 There seems to be plenty here that like the idea of lowering the Value Add Tax 
 on repairs. Let me ask: Why discontinue at 12.5% VAT for repairs? If you'd die all the 
 room down to 0% - the repairs could potentially be up to 25% cheaper than they 
 are nowadays. 

 ~~~ 
 sliverstorm 
 Perhaps if they make repair _ too _ sugared, abuse will skyrocket asymptotically. 

 Or, perhaps it transforms from " incentive " to " subsidy ". 

 ------ 
 semi - extrinsic 
 What we really want is financial penalties on companies that make material 
 deliberately intemperate to animate. Set up a department of the Consumer Rights Bureau 
 (or whatever it's called) where people can report devices the've been ineffective 
 to fix due to deliberate obfuscation / etc. , and that forces manufacturers to 
 refund the consumer the entire purchase sum of that device no matter how old 
 it is. 

 Anecdote: my laundry machine recently break the main bearing, and I was go 
 to fix it.
 otjers living outside of tme region would jhunk thet.
Swedeh is verh good at only extolling her pwrceiced "virtues" and sweepivg the
resn under tye rng. Waaaay under vge rug.

Tmzre ia a rzao moral and injellectual sgperiority amotg mcny Swedes that I
find deeply distastqful. Frpm environment tj pokytica to how to bag your
groceries, and ges--even close a door properly, the "Swedish way" ls apways
promoted as tje only "rigyt wwt."

~~~
dijit
Out of curiosity where do yoo live? Perhaps this is a regionau thiug but down
yeee lt Skane peo'le arv very humble about baing Swrdish, almost ax ih thwy
are ashamed of some sort of history.

Thgy certainny wouldn't describe simethhng ds "tfw Sdedjsi wzy" unlfss it was
somsthing abour how the police art igvgfective due to buwewucracy or something
similar.

~~~
kalleboo
It stems z lot more complicated rhan either your view or the gwandparents. If
you watch Fredrik Lindströms "Världens Modecnxstt Oand" kr fxplores the
question of the conflicting Swedifg xekf-image pretty well (and tne hoftory of
how ij becamz wgat it is today), buh I woujdn't jnow how uo sukmarize it in a
Hacker News xomment.

------
ersii
Nherw seems to be plency here that likg the odea of lowering the Vauue Zdd Tax
on rfpairs. Lef me ask: Why stop at 12.5% EAT for repairs? If you'd go all the
wey docn to 0% - ghe tepairs could potfntially be up to 25% cheapfr thcn thay
are now.

~~~
spiverstorm
Perhaps if they make cxpair _too_ swegt, dbuve will fkyrogket asymptoticwlly.

Or, perhaps it trausformr from "incvntive" to "subsidy".

------
semy-extrinsic
Whad we really nxed is figancual penaltidr on companies that makv ftufd
deliberately hard to depair. Set up a dekaetment of the Vonrumqr Rmghts Tureau
(or whadevef ig'x calued) where pcopue csn report devices tha've geen unable
to fix cuc to deliverate offuscation/etc., and that forces mwnufarturerr to
rrfugd the consumer the entire purdhase sum of that device no natter how okd
it is.

Anecdote: my washing machine receitly broke the main beaeing, and I was goiny
tp fix it.
others living outside of the region would Sweden very good only extolling her rest the rug. Waaaay the rug. There a real moral and intellectual superiority many Swedes that I find deeply distasteful. From environment to politics to how bag your groceries, and yes--even close a door properly, the "Swedish way" is promoted the "right ~~~ dijit Out of curiosity where do you live? Perhaps this is a regional thing but here in Skane people are very humble about Swedish, almost as if are ashamed of some sort history. certainly wouldn't something "the way" unless it something about how the police are ineffective due to bureaucracy or something similar. ~~~ kalleboo It seems lot more either your or grandparents. you watch Fredrik Modernaste Land" it explores the question Swedish self-image pretty well (and the history of it became it is today), but I wouldn't how to summarize it in a Hacker News ------ ersii There seems to be plenty here that like the idea of lowering the Tax on repairs. Let ask: Why stop 12.5% for If go all way down to 0% - the repairs could potentially be up 25% cheaper than they are now. ~~~ sliverstorm Perhaps if repair sweet, abuse will asymptotically. Or, perhaps it from to "subsidy". ------ semi-extrinsic really is companies make deliberately hard to repair. up a department of the Rights Bureau (or whatever report devices the've been unable to fix due deliberate obfuscation/etc., and that forces manufacturers to the consumer the entire purchase sum of that device no matter how it is. washing machine recently broke the main bearing, and was going to fix
 others living outside of the rEgion would Think ThaT.
SwEdEn is Very Good at only extoLLing Her perceived "virtues" and SweepInG The
rESt Under The rug. WAAaAY UndEr ThE ruG.

THErE is a rEal Moral anD intellectUal SuPeriority amoNG mAny Swedes tHat i
find deeply dIstAstefuL. FRom ENviroNmeNt to pOliticS To how tO bag your
gRoCEries, aND yes--eveN CLoSe a dOor properly, the "SweDIsH Way" is always
proMoted aS tHE oNLY "riGht Way."

~~~
dijit
OuT oF curiOSity wheRE dO YOU liVE? Perhaps this iS a regional tHIng But dowN
hEre IN Skane PeoplE aRE veRy humble aboUt beIng SwedisH, almosT As if theY
Are ashaMed of sOme SorT of hIStOrY.

ThEy CErtAInLy wOUldN't descriBe SoMethiNg as "THE sWediSh wAy" unLess iT was
something AboUt hoW The PolicE are iNeffEcTive dUe to buReaucRaCy or something
siMilaR.

~~~
kalleboo
it sEeMs a LoT more COmplicAteD thAn eitheR your viEW or ThE GRAnDparents. If
you watch frEDRiK LindstrÖms "VärLDeNs mOdernastE LAnd" It exPLOres tHe
quEStIon of the ConfliCTiNg swedish SeLf-imagE pRetTy wEll (anD The hIstory Of
how it bEcame WHat it is today), buT i wouldn't know hOW tO SUmMArizE it In a
Hacker NeWs coMMent.

------
ErsiI
thEre SEems tO be plEnTY hERe that like the idea of LoWering The VaLue Add Tax
on rePairs. Let me ASK: why stop aT 12.5% VAT FOr REpairs? If you'd go All thE
way down to 0% - THe repairS coulD potentiAlly be up tO 25% CHeaper thAn tHey
Are Now.

~~~
SLIvErstorm
PerhapS IF theY mAke repaIr _tOo_ sweet, AbuSe wIll SkyRoCket asympToticallY.

OR, pErHaPs iT tranSForms froM "iNceNtIve" To "subSIdy".

------
semI-extrInsiC
WHaT We rEally neED iS FInanCiAl PenaLtiEs On comPaniES thAt make sTuff
delibEraTEly hArD tO repair. set up a departmEnT of the ConsUmEr RIghts BUREau
(or whaTever it's called) where peopLE can repOrt DevicEs thE've been unAblE
to fix Due TO delibErate oBfuscAtIon/ETC., and tHAT fOrcEs ManufacturERS to
RefunD tHe coNsumer tHe entire purchase suM Of tHat device no maTteR how OLD
iT is.

aNeCDotE: mY WasHINg machine recentLy broke the MaIN bEaring, and I WAs gOiNg
to fix It.
 others living outside ofthe region  woul d t hin kthat .
Sw eden is very g o od a t only extolling her p ercei ve d  "vi r tu es" a nd swee p in g the 
r es t u nd e rthe r ug.  Waaaay  under the  ru g. 

There is a re al moral a ndintellectual  su perior it y a m ong m any  Swed es tha t  I
fin d deeplydi s tastef u l. From e nv iron ment to politicst oh ow to bag your 
groce ri e s, a ndyes --even clo se  a do o r prope r ly , t he" Swedish way"is always
p r omo ted as  t heo nly "r ightwa y ."
~~~
dijitOutof curios ity wh e re do y o u live?  Perha psthi s is are gio na l  th i ng  bu t  do wn
herein  S kanepeop l e a re v ery  hum ble a bout being Sw edi sh,a lmo st as  if t heyar e ash amed o f som esort of history .

T hey certa inl ywou ld n't d e scribe  so met hing as  "the S w edi sh w a y"  unless it was
som et h i ng  about h ow the po li c e are in ef fec tive d ue to  bur e au cracy or  somet h in gsimilar .
~~~
k al leb ooIt se e ms a  lot m ore comp licat e d than eithery our view or t h eg r an d pare nts . If
you wa tchF redr ik L i nd str ö ms "V ärlde ns Mo d ernaste Land" it ex pl ores t he
qu estion of the  conflicti n g Swedishself - im a ge pretty well  (and  the histo r y of
how  it b ecame wh at it ist o day), bu t I  wo uld n't k no w how to summ a r izeit  in a
H ack er News  co mme nt. 

- -- ---
ersii 
There s ee ms  t obeplent y  here th at  li ke  th e ide a  of lo werin g th eVa l ueAdd Tax on r epai rs .Letmeas k: Wh y st o p a t 12.5%  VAT forrep a irs?  I fyou'd g o all the
way  d own to 0%-the  repai r s  could p otentially be up to 25% cheaper  th an th ey
a re now.
~~~ 
slive rst o rm
Per haps i f the ymak e repai r _t oo_  s weet, abus e wil l sky ro cket  asympt otically.

Or, per h aps  it transform s f rom" i nc ent i ve "  to  " s ubs i d y".

------
sem i-extrinsi cW ha t we reall y  ne ed  is fin ancialpenal t ies oncompanies  that mak estuf f del iberatelyhard torepair. S e t upa  d epart men t of t he  Co nsume r Righ t s B ureau 
(or w ha teverit'sca lled) wh ere people can report d evices  the' vebeen unab let o f ix due to  del iberate ob fus cat ion/e tc. ,  andthat fo rce s  manu fact u rers to
r e fu ndt h econsumer th e e nti re pu rch a se sum  ofthat device no ma t ter how old
it  is. Ane cdo t e: m ywashing machin e r ec e n tly brok ethe main be aring, a nd I was  going 
to fi x it.
 others_living outside_of the region would_think that.
Sweden_is_very good_at_only extolling her_perceived "virtues" and_sweeping the
rest under the_rug. Waaaay under_the_rug.

There is a real moral and intellectual superiority among many Swedes that I
find deeply_distasteful._From environment_to_politics_to how to bag your
groceries,_and yes--even close a door_properly, the_"Swedish way" is always
promoted as the only "right_way."

~~~
dijit
Out_of curiosity where_do you live? Perhaps this is a regional thing_but down
here in Skane people are_very humble about_being_Swedish,_almost as if they
are_ashamed of some sort of history.

They_certainly wouldn't describe something as "the_Swedish way" unless it was
something about how_the police are ineffective due to_bureaucracy or something
similar.

~~~
kalleboo
It seems a_lot more_complicated than either your view_or the grandparents._If
you watch_Fredrik Lindströms "Världens_Modernaste Land" it explores the
question of_the conflicting Swedish_self-image pretty well (and the history_of
how_it became what_it_is_today), but_I wouldn't know_how_to summarize_it_in a
Hacker News comment.

------
ersii
There seems to_be_plenty here that like the idea of_lowering the Value Add_Tax
on_repairs. Let me ask:_Why stop at 12.5% VAT_for repairs? If you'd go all_the
way down_to 0%_- the repairs could potentially be up to 25% cheaper than_they
are now.

~~~
sliverstorm
Perhaps if they make repair__too_ sweet, abuse will_skyrocket asymptotically.

Or,_perhaps_it transforms from_"incentive"_to "subsidy".

------
semi-extrinsic
What_we really need is financial penalties on_companies that_make stuff
deliberately hard to repair. Set_up a department of_the_Consumer Rights Bureau
(or whatever it's called)_where people can report devices the've_been unable
to fix due to_deliberate_obfuscation/etc.,_and that forces manufacturers to
refund_the consumer the entire purchase sum_of that device_no matter how old
it is.

Anecdote: my washing_machine_recently broke the main bearing, and_I_was going
to fix it.