From my European viewpoint US seems to have a thriving civil society.
Sweden used to have that. Workers movement, free churches and the temperance movement basically built the Swedish democracy. A large percent of the population were contributing members in them. They are almost extinct now.
The welfare state took their place. If something is not commercially viable in Sweden, it has to be funded by tax payers. And then you get all the issues of what should be funded and what shouldn't.
We no longer have strong, self-supporting associations. And we don't have the philanthropic tradition where rich people fund things.
Sweden used to have that. Workers movement, free churches and the temperance movement basically built the Swedish democracy. A large percent of the population were contributing members in them. They are almost extinct now.
The welfare state took their place. If something is not commercially viable in Sweden, it has to be funded by tax payers. And then you get all the issues of what should be funded and what shouldn't.
We no longer have strong, self-supporting associations. And we don't have the philanthropic tradition where rich people fund things.