REAL WORLD EVENT DISCUSSIONS

Do You Know Why Denmark Is One Of The Happiest Countries In The World?

POSTED BY: NIKI2
UPDATED: Thursday, May 30, 2013 16:06
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VIEWED: 2000
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Tuesday, May 28, 2013 6:40 AM

NIKI2

Gettin' old, but still a hippie at heart...


I think we could learn a lot from them:
Quote:

Last year Denmark was ranked the happiest country in world. This year Denmark is ranked the second happiest country in the world topped only by Norway. They are both successful high tax, very good social safety net (universal healthcare, unemployment compensation, retraining, free or affordable higher education, etc.) countries. They are both democratic.

Denmark and other Scandinavian countries weathered the 2008 Great Depression better than most of Europe and the United States. They did this even with what Americans would consider a bloated public sector ( http://www.guardian.co.uk/society/joepublic/2009/aug/05/scandinavia-re
cession-welfare-state
).

If one is to believe in the economy of scale, America’s size makes efficiency even more possible than in these small countries. America is extremely rich with natural resources, not only oil. The problem is that it is distributed unfairly among the few that ‘stole’ it or bought it on the cheap (e.g.,25 families own 1% of all land and the resources of that land in America).

Denmark and other Scandinavian countries’ with strong social safety nets have not made them less competitive. In fact they are way at the top of the list with the United States. Most other countries at the top have strong social safety nets as well. As a society they care more for the social, economic, and health well-being of their fellow citizens than America.

One of the reasons Denmark and other Scandinavian countries with a strong social safety nets weathered the Great Recession better is that they had a built in stimulus. In America when one loses a job, they get unemployment for a short time (this recession was an exception). That unemployment is much less than wages and runs out quickly. That means the contribution to the economy by that laid off worker makes a recession much worse as much less money is entered into the economy. In countries with strong safety nets, workers get up to 90% of their wages. As such the economic shock from unemployment is mitigated till the economy’s ‘overstock’ is mitigated until increased employment is required.

In America we are encouraged to disregard logic and obvious reality for the sake of ideology. The ideology is present to maintain not only a status quo, but a country where only a select few will ever have the opportunity to be wealthy. It is a ‘me first’ and selfish ideology. It is an ideology where wealth is built on the backs of the middle class and the poor, Class Warfare. http://www.addictinginfo.org/2013/05/27/do-you-know-why-denmark-is-one
-of-the-happiest-countries-in-the-world/#ixzz2Ubc23wdk



"The reality is Americans have been lied to or allowed to wallow in their own ignorance. They have been taught to believe fallacies that counter one’s intuition. Once this indoctrination is complete, change towards progress is non-existent or painfully slow."

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Tuesday, May 28, 2013 11:29 AM

MAGONSDAUGHTER


they won Eurovision as well. That would make em happy.

C'mon, I can't be the only one who watches.

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Tuesday, May 28, 2013 11:39 AM

KPO

Sometimes you own the libs. Sometimes, the libs own you.


Agree with much of this article but,

Quote:

If one is to believe in the economy of scale, America’s size makes efficiency even more possible than in these small countries.

Not sure about this reasoning. Small countries dominate the GDP per capita lists.

Quote:

C'mon, I can't be the only one who watches.

I can't believe anyone outside of Europe would watch Eurovision... In God's name, why??

It's not personal. It's just war.

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Tuesday, May 28, 2013 12:21 PM

MAL4PREZ


Because Jongs and Rappy don't live there?

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Tuesday, May 28, 2013 12:53 PM

AGENTROUKA


Quote:

Originally posted by kpo:

Quote:

C'mon, I can't be the only one who watches.

I can't believe anyone outside of Europe would watch Eurovision... In God's name, why??





I'm impressed anyone outside Europe has even heard of it! :)

I love it. It's an entertaining train wreck every time. And afterwards you get a diplomatic "scandal" when Azerbaijan gives Russia zero points. Fun for the whole family.





Part of me agrees that the relatively small size/population of Denmark (and the Scandinavian countries in general) is probably some sort of factor in their success. Denmark has less than 6 million people, of a relatively homogeneous background. I would suspect that this type of population would find it easier to pull together to make things work smoothly, one way or the other. And to implement policy quickly and effectively.


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Tuesday, May 28, 2013 1:38 PM

NEWOLDBROWNCOAT


Quote:

Originally posted by MAL4PREZ:

Because Jongs and Rappy don't live there?




Oh, Mal, Shame on you!!

Damn, gonna take me 5 minutes to complete this post, I'm still shaking so hard.

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Tuesday, May 28, 2013 2:50 PM

MAL4PREZ


Quote:

Originally posted by NewOldBrownCoat:
Quote:

Originally posted by MAL4PREZ:

Because Jongs and Rappy don't live there?




Oh, Mal, Shame on you!!

Damn, gonna take me 5 minutes to complete this post, I'm still shaking so hard.



I see it as a chicken or the egg situation...


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Tuesday, May 28, 2013 3:37 PM

NEWOLDBROWNCOAT


I'm confused.
Saw a similar story over on CNN.com with a picture of the Sydney Opera House all painted up like a clown.

http://www.cnn.com/2013/05/28/business/oecd-quality-of-life/index.html
?hpt=hp_c4


Quote:


Paris (CNN) -- Australia has been named the world's happiest industrialized nation for the third year running, based on criteria including satisfaction, work-life balance, income and housing, a survey released Tuesday has found.




I was gonna congratulate our Mags and wish her well.

But, Niki, your header does say "One of the happiest countries."

So who's right? Or are these competing surveys?

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Tuesday, May 28, 2013 4:54 PM

KWICKO

"We'll know our disinformation program is complete when everything the American public believes is false." -- William Casey, Reagan's presidential campaign manager & CIA Director (from first staff meeting in 1981)


Quote:

Originally posted by MAL4PREZ:
Because Jongs and Rappy don't live there?




Ha! Beat me to it! Good on ya!



"I supported Bush in 2000 and 2004 and intellegence [sic] had very little to do with that decision." - Hero

"I was wrong" - Hero, 2012

Mitt Romney, introducing his running mate: "Join me in welcoming the next President of the United States, Paul Ryan!"

Rappy's response? "You're lying, gullible ( believing in some BS you heard on msnbc ) or hard of hearing."

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Tuesday, May 28, 2013 9:40 PM

MAGONSDAUGHTER


Quote:

Originally posted by NewOldBrownCoat:

Paris (CNN) -- Australia has been named the world's happiest industrialized nation for the third year running, based on criteria including satisfaction, work-life balance, income and housing, a survey released Tuesday has found.




Damn, I should feel better.

Quote:

I can't believe anyone outside of Europe would watch Eurovision... In God's name, why??


Eurovision has a bit of a cult following down this way.

Quote:

It is surely a great testament to the success of Australia's international broadcaster that Eurovision has acquired such a dedicated local following.

Were it not for SBS's dedicated coverage, celebrating the 30-year anniversary of televising the event, it's likely the Australian following would not extend much further locally than handful of diehard European Australians in suburban backyards.

Yet every year parties take place in homes, bars and social clubs all over Australia from St Kilda to Bondi Beach and beyond to celebrate an event to which Australia has never been an active participant – just an excited and bemused antipodean onlooker.

Aussies love a good contest - and Eurovision provides the perfect opportunity to poke affectionate fun at our European relatives across the pond. But somewhere along the way, Australia fell in love with Eurovision, and now there seems to be no turning back on it.
Advertisement

With Australia's deep immigrant connections to Europe, it's not altogether surprising that we like to feel part of Eurovision. It's there in our national DNA as much as good coffee – another European import. Of course we fell in love with Abba before Eurovision was screened here – Waterloo trailed a path for Aussies to follow. And who could forget that our very own Olivia Newton-John represented England at the finals in 1974.

The connections run deep. Not only does the SBS coverage take us on a campy, kitschy trip to the heart of Eurovision, it takes it a step further and guides of through parts of Europe many Australians may have never otherwise have experienced – and always offers a distinctly Aussie slant on them.

It's like a Euro travel brochure hosted by all manner of singing misfits, punctuated by rare moments of brilliance in which we have to disguise our embarrassed tears at momentarily getting swept away by it all. The camp romantic in us all is awoken from its slumber.

This year as a prelude to the main event we were taken on a campervan tour through the Baltic states with SBS host Julia Zemiro keeping the Eurovision dream alive for all of us back home.

She offered affectionate and often hilarious interviews with an Abba covers band in Sweden, heavy metal Vikings from Finland, and, in a nod to Eurovision's strong gay following, even took us into the bedroom drag performers from Ukraine.

Along the way we learnt about Estonia's singing revolution and visited the house where Abba had formed in the Swedish island of Djurgarden before Zemiro got to meet her childhood idol, Abba vocalist Frida. Pure gold! For diehard fans, SBS also offers Eurovision Radio – a 24-hour stream of songs from previous contests allowing punters the opportunity of total immersion.

We love to disparage the bad taste tunes like this year's Irish entrant Ryan Dolan who, despite putting on a good performance with beefy dancers who that somewhat stole the show from his rather vapid tune, still managed to get the wooden spoon.

No doubt the arrival of social media has added a whole new dimension to Eurovision, and SBS provided local viewers plenty of opportunities to comment. In response to Estonian entrant Birgit, pregnant and all dressed in flowing white, Australian tweeter @amam1975 jibed: “The hotel called. They'd like their shower curtain back, Estonia.”

As expected, it was Denmark who brought home victory this year, with the barefoot feral-chic up-and-coming singer Emmelie de Forest winning over voters with her song Only Teardrops. My personal favourite was the Dutch witchy singer Anouk and her tune Birds. The Netherlands never does well at Eurovision – despite trying so hard.

But isn't that the thing with Eurovision – no matter where you're watching it in the world – you never expect your own favourite to win. And that's part of the fun.

Eurovision is the contest the world loves to hate. And Australians are not immune. There is something tantalisingly egalitarian about Eurovision that ignores the usual geopolitical hierarchies of Europe.

This year was no exception with the UK finishing 19th despite recruiting a 61-year old Bonnie Tyler to front the stage. Boy George summed it up when he tweeted in response: "Eurovision is so mental! Most of the songs are incoherent and devoid of a tune.” Ain't that just the truth.

James Norman is a Melbourne writer and author

Read more: http://www.smh.com.au/comment/eurovision-why-aussies-lap-up-a-good-che
esefest-20130520-2jvgz.html#ixzz2UfH6PSMc





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Wednesday, May 29, 2013 2:08 AM

AURAPTOR

America loves a winner!


Quote:

Originally posted by MAL4PREZ:
Because Jongs and Rappy don't live there?



Then why isn't everywhere else happy too ?

Logic fail.

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Wednesday, May 29, 2013 4:53 AM

NIKI2

Gettin' old, but still a hippie at heart...


I'd never heard of it...not into singing contests, so probably wouldn't have anyway. But it's not really such a "cult" thing:
Quote:

is one of the longest-running television programmes in the world. It is also one of the most watched non-sporting events in the world,[2] with audience figures having been quoted in recent years as anything between 100 million and 600 million internationally.


Audience of even just 100 million is nothing to sneeze at.

As to which country is "happiest" in any given year, I think it depends on who's doing the judging, doesn't it? And yes, while size may play into it, I think the word "homogenous" might have something to do with it, too.


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Wednesday, May 29, 2013 11:37 AM

MAGONSDAUGHTER


Ha, I'd recommend you start to watch it. It's just like the Hunger Games in the capital, without the genetically mutated hounds. Well at least there were none this year.

There were giants and vampires however.

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Wednesday, May 29, 2013 1:50 PM

AURAPTOR

America loves a winner!


Quote:

Originally posted by Magonsdaughter:
Ha, I'd recommend you start to watch it. It's just like the Hunger Games in the capital, without the genetically mutated hounds. Well at least there were none this year.

There were giants and vampires however.



Call me when there are GIANT vampires.

Fathom the hypocrisy of a government that requires every citizen to prove they are insured... but not everyone must prove they are a citizen

Resident USA Freedom Fundie

" AU, that was great, LOL!! " - Chrisisall

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Wednesday, May 29, 2013 2:56 PM

MAL4PREZ


Quote:

Originally posted by AURaptor:
Quote:

Originally posted by MAL4PREZ:
Because Jongs and Rappy don't live there?



Then why isn't everywhere else happy too ?

Logic fail.



Don't hurt yourself. Wasn't trying to apply logic, just making fun of you.

Surprised you didn't catch that. Oh, wait, no I'm not.

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Wednesday, May 29, 2013 3:09 PM

AURAPTOR

America loves a winner!


Quote:

Originally posted by MAL4PREZ:
Quote:

Originally posted by AURaptor:
Quote:

Originally posted by MAL4PREZ:
Because Jongs and Rappy don't live there?



Then why isn't everywhere else happy too ?

Logic fail.



Don't hurt yourself. Wasn't trying to apply logic, just making fun of you.

Surprised you didn't catch that. Oh, wait, no I'm not.



Humor fail, too.

Wow. Double whammy.

Ouch.

Fathom the hypocrisy of a government that requires every citizen to prove they are insured... but not everyone must prove they are a citizen

Resident USA Freedom Fundie

" AU, that was great, LOL!! " - Chrisisall

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Wednesday, May 29, 2013 3:22 PM

MAL4PREZ


Quote:

Originally posted by AURaptor:

Humor fail, too.



LOL! You took my post seriously, and now you're trying to be a judge of humor?

Rappy, in my mind's eye you will always be wearing really big shoes, a round red nose, and a wig of many colors.



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Wednesday, May 29, 2013 3:43 PM

AURAPTOR

America loves a winner!


Quote:

Originally posted by MAL4PREZ:
Quote:

Originally posted by AURaptor:

Humor fail, too.



LOL! You took my post seriously, and now you're trying to be a judge of humor?




What's funny is how you think you know how I took your comment.


You should know... I never take anything you say seriously.

Fathom the hypocrisy of a government that requires every citizen to prove they are insured... but not everyone must prove they are a citizen

Resident USA Freedom Fundie

" AU, that was great, LOL!! " - Chrisisall

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Wednesday, May 29, 2013 5:24 PM

MAL4PREZ


Quote:

Originally posted by AURaptor:
Quote:

Originally posted by MAL4PREZ:
Because Jongs and Rappy don't live there?



Then why isn't everywhere else happy too ?

Logic fail.



You took it to be QUOTE logic UNQUOTE, clownboy.

Please try again.

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Wednesday, May 29, 2013 5:47 PM

KWICKO

"We'll know our disinformation program is complete when everything the American public believes is false." -- William Casey, Reagan's presidential campaign manager & CIA Director (from first staff meeting in 1981)


Quote:

Originally posted by MAL4PREZ:
Quote:

Originally posted by AURaptor:

Humor fail, too.



LOL! You took my post seriously, and now you're trying to be a judge of humor?

Rappy, in my mind's eye you will always be wearing really big shoes, a round red nose, and a wig of many colors.








He's more the Pennywise kind of clown.







"I supported Bush in 2000 and 2004 and intellegence [sic] had very little to do with that decision." - Hero

"I was wrong" - Hero, 2012

Mitt Romney, introducing his running mate: "Join me in welcoming the next President of the United States, Paul Ryan!"

Rappy's response? "You're lying, gullible ( believing in some BS you heard on msnbc ) or hard of hearing."

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Thursday, May 30, 2013 11:40 AM

AURAPTOR

America loves a winner!


Quote:

Originally posted by MAL4PREZ:
Quote:

Originally posted by AURaptor:
Quote:

Originally posted by MAL4PREZ:
Because Jongs and Rappy don't live there?



Then why isn't everywhere else happy too ?

Logic fail.



You took it to be QUOTE logic UNQUOTE, clownboy.

Please try again.



I could type slower for you, if that'd help. I kinda doubt it, though.

Fathom the hypocrisy of a government that requires every citizen to prove they are insured... but not everyone must prove they are a citizen

Resident USA Freedom Fundie

" AU, that was great, LOL!! " - Chrisisall

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Thursday, May 30, 2013 3:10 PM

MAL4PREZ


Quote:

Originally posted by AURAPTOR:

I could type slower for you, if that'd help. I kinda doubt it, though.




No, nothing can help you be a sensible poster. Your fingers will never move as slow as your thoughts.

But that red button nose sure is cute! *pinches Rappy's cheek*

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Thursday, May 30, 2013 4:06 PM

AURAPTOR

America loves a winner!


Quote:

Originally posted by MAL4PREZ:
Quote:

Originally posted by AURAPTOR:

I could type slower for you, if that'd help. I kinda doubt it, though.




No, nothing can help you be a sensible poster. Your fingers will never move as slow as your thoughts.

But that red button nose sure is cute! *pinches Rappy's cheek*



Continuing to live rent free in the vacant minds of the angry, frustrated Left.

*smile*

Fathom the hypocrisy of a government that requires every citizen to prove they are insured... but not everyone must prove they are a citizen

Resident USA Freedom Fundie

" AU, that was great, LOL!! " - Chrisisall

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