The following post is from an interview I had with Maria Ludvigsson, an award-winning columnist writer in the Swedish newspaper, Svenska Dagbladet. This is also an excerpt from the book Attractive Unattractive Americans, which are available in bookstores now.

The Swedish are known for their attitude; we think we have something to teach to the rest of the world. Even here in little Sweden, one can often find preconceived comments about how bad everything is outside of our borders. America is the country we want to talk about most when we share opinions on how things should be done.
In the presidential election in 2012, Sweden expressed more statements than usual about how crazy Americans are and that they lack the sanity to vote as honorable Swedish people would. Not infrequently, Swedish people make statements about the Swedish welfare state, equality and the excellences of their equality state. But the self-satisfaction of the Swedish ought to make every human being sick if they have a trifle of objectivity in their body. 
The stuck-up comments from Swedes stem from something that reminds them of an unhappy love story. We love, admire and constantly crave to be like Americans, but they do not return our adoration. Americans mix us up with some other country that begins with an S, “Swiweden or what was the name again?”
As if that wasn’t enough, humiliated, we realize that our great love for America is worn on our sleeve, obvious to all, including ourselves and Americans. Americans manage to take care of themselves without our good Swedish advice, benevolence and attention. No other country has as many Nobel Prize winners as the United States. The latest technology, medicine, movies, music and everything we perceive as “the newest” comes from America. Of course, it can be noted that American hegemony sometimes is disturbed by up-and-coming countries, like China, who impress us with their ambitions toward labor, growth and economic stability. However, it is clear that countries like China look to one specific country as their primary inspiration—America. 
The current economic crises and the low conjuncture also injure the USA’s highly esteemed reputation. That worries us; it concerns us when the one who we have all hope for doesn’t live up to our expectations. But this worry also gives us a reason, to again, tell Americans about Sweden and how we think things should be done. We are proud to showcase how good our country is financially, and we like to point out that The Financial Times selected our Swedish finance minister as the “Finance Minster of the Year, 2012.” That is a major award!
So, in our comments and greetings to the country “over there,” we Swedes explain willingly how we believe the USA should have done things. Of course, we believe they should strive to be more like us: raise taxes, secularize the religious population and, as soon as possible, build the same welfare state that Sweden did in the 1970s. And for God’s sake, let wealth be synonymous with “stealing from the poor.” Only then could the United States be more easily understood, and more important, America would be much better because they would be more Swedish. 
Perhaps our love story goes back longer than we believe—to a time long before America gave us rock music, movie stars, dreams and the iMac. Wasn’t it our close family members who once left the captive and poor lands of Europe to build anew and big in the West? Why should those who left to escape religious oppression, tax collectors, counts, barons, emperors and kings ever expose themselves to that again? Why build a copy of Europe when you could build a better country in America with freedom of expression, economic liberty and religious independence of the United States? It stings a bit for the Scandinavians to acknowledge that the people who left did it to start something new. 
Let it also be said that there are those who believe that everything in the U.S. is good, but some people argue that Americans in general are a trigger-happy, overweight population that believes in God but not in the welfare state. Therefore, this disparity of opinion creates a natural need to provide an alternative picture. However, neither image is correct. The U.S. is perhaps like most people: both good and bad.
You cannot paint a picture of America and get a homogeneous portrait of the country. It is broader and more diverse than what can be written in the chronicles and analyses. But America is fascinating and it is the country that, more than any other, gives us hope. We always glance westward to seek ideas and solutions. A humble view is that we have more to learn from the U.S. than they do of us.

Thank you for reading, and share if you want to.
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- Frightening power of abuse by Huffington Post
- Trump is absolutely right about Sweden (deleted from Huffington post)
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Yesterday, all hell broke loose because I wrote a sincere story about immigration issues Sweden have. I posted the article on the new contributor platform at Huffington Post, where they emphasize that writers have editorial responsibility. In retrospect, I gave them a dozen sources to corroborate the facts in the story. But they still deleted the article, and after a while they deleted all my earlier blog posts I had written for them. This is a direct censorship of my freedom to speech.
The press responsibility is to show integrity, especially when one does not agree with the contents of the case one writes. The press should also take responsibility and stand up for injustices against the common man in the street. But in this case Huffington Post has failed its responsibility totally – and probably for political reasons. Generally speaking, this is very sad for Americans who want to know what goes on in their society. It is also alarming that one can not rely on articles written by journalists who aims more to become famous rather than being acknowledged. Journalist that always says what people like to hear shouldn’t be aloud to write for the nationwide media. To put things in perspective, I have previously written critical articles about Donald Trump, which is also published on the Huffington post, but these have been left alone without discussion of none of the editors. The difference is that editors more politically accept these articles because it’s critique of Trump. This proves again what unserious medium Huffington Post really is; they obviously just want to hear one side of the story. I’m upset, surprised and disappointed that highly paid and trained journalists in one of the largest US online newspapers can act so cowardly without a spine. The whole world can now witness what they are doing. And this has really given me an awakening. Although I have thought that Trump has raved a bit too much when he says that the press is lying. Now today, I have unfortunately a very different opinion. Media themselves, with these coward acts of Huffington Post, have now proven that Trump is right in his statements about the media, but hopefully not all of them!

“The highest mode of corruption is the abuse of power.”
Auliq Ice

I also sent mail to Arianna Huffington on the subject, and asked whether she supports the decision these editors stand for, but now after more than 24 hours of waiting, I still have not received a reply, and the article is still censored.
Meanwhile, the man in the street in America stood up and supported me in this matter, and I am eternally grateful for that. The people stood up for a more balanced and fair press-media, and for freedom to speech. But unfortunately it seems that we all have a fight ahead of us, a battle I thought was won long ago, that news should be presented in a truthful and positive way. In this case, we see the opposite - a total abuse of power in terms of censorship.
I wants’ what best for America, I have always wanted a great America, and because of that I will continue to write about what I wish could have been better in the US. I will both criticize and also salute America when deserved, because I care about the country. Challenges I want to focus on is to get rural areas in the United States to work again, make a stop for crime, violence and drug trafficking, to provide middle class significantly better conditions and much mutch more. What’s amazes me now, is that the power elite in some of the American newsrooms do not even have this important subjects on their agenda. Anyway, I'll do what I can to bring factual information to Americans who want's to read them.
​Thank you all for reading! 

I have no idea why politicians aren't doing things righter when it comes to guiding the American people to eat properly, and secondly make sure that healthy food is available to all Americans. What we see these days is passive politicians, but we also see huge food companies that benefits on terrible artificial food. We should really ask the question that we may don't want to; should politicians be held responsible to cause peoples illness? There is really no reason why citizens in the US. should suffer while wealthy business owners get richer and richer by serving poisonous and unhealthy food. In my opinion, politicians must set peoples health on the top of their priority list - and not to prioritize the food producer's interests. 

What would help immediately is to remove sugar products in the grocery stores.  Also, to help American farmers grow organic food would have several good effects in term off less pesticides, and more healthy antioxidants in our food. The American countryside will grow threw small local agricultural, and that again will result in more jobs and livelier districts. It would also be clever to avoid processed food, they are in general unhealthy, is high sweetened, high salted and contains artificial additives.

Let's also think of the nature for a moment. To produce food in a more local and smaller scale will not only provide us with healthier food, but we will also have recovered fields and a better environment in general. The local farmers will also be in a more sustainable business.  It's so much win-win from local organic farming so to don't go that direction would be quite unwise. That's my view bout it.

But I also asked nutrition expert Dr. Ron Rosedale what recommendations he would give - to achieve a better, longer and healthier life. 
Here is what he said:
- First, don't listen to the doctor. I hate to say it, but it's true. Anything that has to do with chronic disease and nutrition, don't listen to your doctor. Chances are that he or she will give you the opposite advice of what makes you healthy. 
Second, eat properly. What properly means is don't eat food that turns to sugar--that's really critical. Don't be afraid of eating fat. Don't go after carbohydrates and especially avoid carbohydrates that just turn to sugar. You can live perfectly well without carbohydrates, even though it is impossible to avoid them completely. </blockquote>
Rosedale explain further:
- The main reason why Americans are getting sicker and fatter every year is that they listened to their doctor and other medical professionals and followed their advice. We follow a high-carbohydrate diet. We have been told to eat as low fat as possible. Since we have started to do that, we have gotten sicker and sicker. 
A single piece of advice, to eat a low-fat, high-carbohydrate diet, has probably killed more Americans than any other single event in human history. I can't even imagine how many people have died due to that ridiculous advice, which is based on no science whatsoever. In fact, it is probably based more on politics, or what I call "kindergarten medicine". We have been taught that eating fat makes us fat, but that's not how the body works. We must stop listening to the medical professionals who have given us deadly advice over the last half-century. 
Americans have very little idea about what is causing their poor health situation. Their being brainwashed into thinking that they need to do more of what they are taught. It's not that the information doesn't reach the people; it's that the information is totally wrong in the first place. I don't think it's the fault of the American people, I think it's the doctors' fault because right now, doctors are being controlled by the pharmaceutical industry. They make money out of sick people. Getting the right information from the doctors has to change--we just have to get the truth out there, says Rosedale.

for a better world, with such statements and desperation, should really set the alarm bells on for the American voters. America deserves intellectual leaders who can articulate themselves - not politicians who can swear highest and nastiest, and Trump clearly bullies fellow political partners on both sides, but also the American people through his furious campaign. 
First of all, Bernie Sanders is not socialist, he is not communist - he is a humanist. It's about thinking about the guy next door; it's about that old lady across the street that has contributed to the American society her whole life. It's to the American soldier who has protected world peace with his own life at stake. It's about that all Americans are equal and should have a fair chance in life. These people, mentioned above, can't in today's America, make a proper living out of their income. Therefore needs America a change.
Just so you understand where I am coming from. I am not a socialist - I love innovation and people that start, or own, businesses that grow. My political stance is more to right than left. I know we must create healthy businesses to have a healthy working marked in America or elsewhere in the world. I hope from the bottom of my heart that everyone will achieve success and wealth - but the difference between some extreme republicans and Bernie Sanders is that he doesn't want people to be wealthier on other's misery. Because that's what's going on in America right now, prosperous Americans getting even richer on the middle-class's behalf. While the American economy is very strong in America now, people, and especially the poor and the middle class -- or should I say what's left of the middle class -- don't have much wealth left. 
When Barack Obama preaches that the USA is in better economic wealth in a long time, he actually may be right, but only on paper. The fresh notified America he talks about - with more jobs and a healthier business economy is not for the common citizen. Because only some few get pleasures from the increased prosperity, and they are already the wealthiest in America. The middle-class income has steadily deteriorated while the business owners conditions have been improved. Is that the kind America that people really want - two percent billionaires and 98 percent poor citizens? What recognizes a communist country is that they have some very few rich leaders and many, many poor people. Not unlike today's America. I think it's important to reflect a bit what kind of America we all want for the future. Will you have an extreme angry old billionaire to rule the country, or a humanist who wants equal rights for the common people? The choice is yours.
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​It's about time. America has been a target for almost every intellectual writer the last decades. They have followed the mainstream and willingly criticized America without inhibitions. Enough is enough - here is a positive and very honest article about America for a change.
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Made in America Quality 
Many want designed products with high quality. If the product is great and stand out - foreigners are buying them. Some popular brands that are selling abroad are KitchenAid, Tesla Cars, and Apple products. These are all more expensive products than their competitors, but since they are such great products they sell very well.

American pop culture
We don't admit it easily, cause it's intellectually a wrong thing to say it, but we love American pop-culture, and we consume a lot of it; from movies, to music and all kinds of art. There I said it. 

The American dream: 
America is, and always will be, the land of opportunity. Where dreams really comes true. 
Lets face it, to doing something great like winning a singing competition or invent something useful or starting a clever business is not a guarantee for fame and fortune abroad. In fact most of them are forgotten the day after. People therefore love the idea of the American dream, and that if you make it in America you most likely make it big. An also really beautiful gesture, in foreigner's eyes, is the support of one and each other when someone is chasing and working hard to achieve their dreams. In America people want their friends and family to have success, many other places they don't care, some even try to prevent an acquaintance from achievement if they can. 

The scenery
USA has got it all right from Mother Nature. Everything from stunning prairies, wild mountains and exiting lakes, it's so diverse and so different from state to state. I have only one advise to the American people: Go out and explore your beautiful country a lot more. 

Inventors 
The bottom line is that America has invented almost everything there is to invent, and people all over the world can and are benefitting from your products. This world would be totally different without these innovations. 

The idea of freedom 
One of the main reasons for Europeans to escape to America was freedom - freedom to speak, religious freedom, financial freedom, freedom to choose your spouse and political freedom. The fact is that people in most countries in the world dreams of the same freedom that you find in America. The whole idea of a free America was to include everyone from all cultures, backgrounds and religions.

Charity and Aid 
When someone needs help, Americans are there to help them. It doesn't matter if there is an earthquake, tsunami, hurricane or even war. Americans are there to rescue you with their own lives on stake. While other countries are talking about helping others when a disaster is happening somewhere, Americans are already there to help. I don't think that Americans understand how much their aid is appreciated abroad, people all over the world loves Americans because of their helping hand. What makes people a bit sad is all the criticism America gets for the work they doing abroad. People find that underserved. There are of course sometimes things that can go wrong in war and disasters, but to sit passive and not helping others is never the answer! Americans knows that and people can't show enough gratitude to the brave ones who are saving lives almost in every part of the world. 

Friendliness and politeness 
People in the America offers the nicest and friendliest service to people who visits their country. When we are in America for shopping, to sleep over at a hotel or anywhere else in the service business, Americans are always there to treat us like kings and queens. People don't call another "Sir" or "Mam" anymore elsewhere in this world. America is the exception, and we love it every time they do

Celebrations
Let's admit it, we have learned almost everything there is about celebration from the US. Many outside of America celebrate American "Disney" Christmas, and Halloween is often more celebrated than their own national day. We have parades and we eat turkey, even Coca Cola is part of our celebration on the holidays. Some foreigners even celebrates 4th of July, like a wannabe American. I think reason is that we all feel American sometimes. 

​Pride
In many countries you find people that doesn't care about their own culture, history or traditions. In America you want find them. It doesn't matter how badly America is ruled. The American people will never give up on their country; they want changes for a better America and work hard to make these changes instead of sitting passive and doing nothing. It's not difficult to see peoples admirations for their country when I visit the US. They have a built-in-pride in their country, which is beautiful to witness.

I have asked many people abroad what they think about Donald Trump, to possibly understand why he has such success in the Republican primary election so far with several racist comments, among several other blunders, behind him. I have surprisingly received many comprehensible answers, on Trump's behalf from all kinds of people.
What people seem to agree on is that former American politicians from both sides have done a lot wrong for their country in the recent decades. Many are actually very outraged on how bad America is ruled these past years, how they have let crime and obesity explode. How the upper class is rising while the middle class is not the majority anymore, and that means fewer rich people and many more poor ones. How America still put people in jail more than any other nation. How the prices to get a decent education is increased sky-high. How they treat the American soil and the nature in general. The list could go on and on. 
There are many unanswered questions out there about why average Americans are suffering and getting poorer while the biggest industries and company owners can roll themselves in more cash. The recent years, the American growth and wealth is distributed into the already rich ones' moneybags while the middle class and the broke ones who needed it most is taking the bill.
When we summarize the development, or should we say the lack of development, of the country we all love, it's understandable that American citizens cheering for the Republican candidate Donald Trump. People want a leader who guarantees changes, and Trump promises exactly that. He is a businessman and speaks like one, and people seem to understand him well. He is now the voice of many powerless and desperate Americans who not only just want changes but who also needs changes badly. These people are not extremist. Many are just ordinary folks like us, some are poor, some rich, some old and some young, but they have one thing in common; they are tired of paralyzed politicians who don't or can't do the right things for their bellowed country. 
There are unfortunately several reasons why a sitting president can't do as he like to. He must go through congress, and he must keep his promises to the people and companies that supported him during the election. So even if the sitting president wants to change something, the laws, deals and regulations may stop him -- no matter how much he wants them. I think America needs a leader who put their fellow citizens prosperity and health above all else; a leader with integrity that is genuine focused on the tasks and who's fighting for these American brothers and sisters every single day, the whole period of four or eight years. America needs a leader who prioritizes the promises to the common man ahead of wealthy banks and rich companies.
Although people understand the desperate cries from many Americans, they don't think or want Trump to be president of the United States. His lack of manners is one thing, the racism he has shown, to Mexicans and Muslims, is another thing. But the third and the most important thing America now needs is empathy and an understanding that many Americans are fighting everyday for survival -- a new leader needs to recognize the domestic problems and to put words into action immediately. People don't think Trump has these qualities, but to be honest; which other candidates does? It seems that the political system makes Americans choose between two evils; Republicans or Democrats: For that I feel sorry for America, and for that I understand why Donald Trump is one of the Republicans favorites. America needs drastic changes.
Maybe a new political system should be on the agenda, and perhaps it will come with some new innovative politic ideas that can be implemented in the American system. The way it is right now is not the path to a sustainable future for the American people.

​9. BUDGET DESTINATION
You can find luxury resorts here as well, but if you stay and eat with the locals your money will last for a long, long time. ​​
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Republican candidate, Donald Trump behaves like a sulky old man. Americans are willingly bullying each other online and many have an ego-centric mentality. Where have American gentlemen gone?
That's what people around the world are asking. For years people abroad have witness American behavior collapse drastically on several areas. 
Back in the old days American men were synonymous with well behaving, stylish and kind people who had a socially accepted etiquette. They hold the door up for the ladies, talked to them as equals and with respect. They even used to eat with a fork and a knife. Americans were always dressing sharp, were well-articulated and could behave themselves in any circumstances. Their spouses were treated like queens. 
The past two to three decades a lot has changed. American men are now known as selfish, rude with terrible manners. Sentences that includes words like: "Dude", "That ass" and "f_king awesome" is blended in to the language for today's Americans - the more younger these adult-Americans are - even worse is the language. 
To hold a door open for someone, help another person or saying kind and nice words is quite unusual these days, especially in the dating world of Tinder and other dating apps, where to be an idiot seems to be a better idea than being a polite gentleman. 
Online, people are bullied by other Americans and I will spare you to repeat all the trash-comments you can find in the different forums on the world-web. What all Americans should ask themselves are: Should they allow this bad circle to continue or do they want a change? 
The truth is, wearing a nice suit or having lots of money doesn't automatically make you a gentleman. One sulky and grumpy Donald Trump is a living example of that - talking women and Mexicans down and acts like he is the owner of America. Why does he have such rage and lack of respect to other people and especially women? Where are honor, integrity, and courtesy? And where is the gentleman's approach? So it is perhaps not that surprising that American youth has trouble behaving good when we have such poor role models, as Donald Trump that is devoid of upbringing.
There are also other circumstances that make a man struggle in today's America. The traditional role of man has shifted with feminism, but feminism doesn't stand for replacing men, as some women and men may think, but for backing of women's rights on the grounds of political, social, and economic equality to men. Some men will therefore struggle to find their role in today's settings. A man, who in a polite way showing interest for a woman can be viewed as an antifeminist. And how many of us men haven't heard we should act like this or that - like a real man do. The problem is that real men in today's America have problem to behave properly, as they want to be in danger to step on some toes. But that doesn't excuse poor behavior, but it may explain some of it. Before, we had clear social rules - things men did and didn't do. A dress code. There were unwritten rules. Men knew what men stand for and would behave thereafter. 
The bottom line is that many people both in out- and inside of America don't like the development in the American society when it comes to the lack of respect for other individuals - no matter what gender you or age are. There is no excuse to bully other people- to don't be kind to others and showing empathy, to speak nice or to have more integrity. 
If fact, if the bad circle continues I know quite many people who will exclude America from their travel plans, and all of them are fine gentlemen.

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