Portside

Tess Asplund, 42, stood in the way of the right-wing extremists and silently raised her fist - this brave woman photographer steps out in front of a 300-strong Nazi march in central Sweden. The image of her peaceful protest and stand against racism has gone viral in Scandinavia. This activist is deemed a hero in Sweden for 'iconic' defiant gesture in front of a fascist march.

When U.S. politicians talk about Scandinavian-style social welfare, they fail to explain the most important aspect of such policies: selfishness. The choices Nordic countries have made have little to do with altruism or kinship. Rather, Nordic people have made their decisions out of self-interest. Nordic nations offer their citizens - all of their citizens, but especially the middle class - high-quality services that save people a lot of money, time, and trouble.