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Why Danes Are So Much Happier Than Americans

Mark O'Cain 2011/10/16 21:27:00

Americans may be deeply divided about what ails our country, but there's no denying we're a nation of unhappy campers.

Danes, on the other hand, consistently rank as some of the happiest people in the world, a fact attributed at least in part to Denmark's legendary income equality and strong social safety net.

Forbes recently cited another possible factor; the Danes' "high levels of trust." They trust each other, they trust 'outsiders,' they even trust their government. 90% of Danes vote. Tea party types dismiss Denmark as a hotbed of socialism, but really, they're just practicing a more enlightened kind of capitalism.

In fact, as Richard Wilkinson, a British professor of social epidemiology, recently stated on PBS NewsHour, "if you want to live the American dream, you should move to Finland or Denmark, which have much higher social mobility."

While we debate whether climate change is real and a tax on unhealthy foods is nanny state social engineering, the Danish are actually trying to address these problems head on.

Read More: http://www.alternet.org/food/152673/why_danes_are_...

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Top Opinion

  • Doc. J 2011/10/17 03:08:15
    Doc. J
    +5
    After 3 years in Europe, I have concluded that there are many things we could stand to learn from Europeans.
    However, the US is a lot like a teenager, it thinks it's as smart as it needs to be, and that there is nothing it needs to learn from anybody.

    We might get past that in a couple of hundred years, IF we as a nation survive that long.
    But that is "iffy" because teenagers have a way of making bad descisions that sometimes jepordize their very lives....(recalling a few of my own.).

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  • La 2011/10/18 14:06:01
    La
    :) Go team denmark.
  • flaca BN-0 2011/10/17 22:08:56
    flaca BN-0
    +2
    Sweden and Finland are similar too in their outlooks. Their governments don't bicker all the time. They club together to find solutions. They score high in education results. We need to send people over there to figure out what they do that works.
  • sjalan 2011/10/17 03:18:33
    sjalan
    +3
    If I were not in my 60's I would certainly consider moving to Denmark. My wife has relatives there that invited us once some time ago. Too bad we didn't take them up on it.
  • Doc. J 2011/10/17 03:08:15
    Doc. J
    +5
    After 3 years in Europe, I have concluded that there are many things we could stand to learn from Europeans.
    However, the US is a lot like a teenager, it thinks it's as smart as it needs to be, and that there is nothing it needs to learn from anybody.

    We might get past that in a couple of hundred years, IF we as a nation survive that long.
    But that is "iffy" because teenagers have a way of making bad descisions that sometimes jepordize their very lives....(recalling a few of my own.).
  • sjalan Doc. J 2011/10/17 03:17:18
    sjalan
    +4
    The US is much more like an angry, petulant teenager who is also a playground bully that owns the biggest bat.
  • Doc. J sjalan 2011/10/17 03:38:28
    Doc. J
    +3
    It wasn't always like that.
    You would think that we would be able to find ground somewhere between isolationism and domineering world policeman.....
    But again, like a teenager, we deal in extremes.
  • Mark O'... Doc. J 2011/10/17 03:39:38
    Mark O'Cain
    +2
    It's been that way since 1981.
  • sjalan Doc. J 2011/10/17 04:07:09
    sjalan
    +2
    Yep, And thank you for your service. Being a medic is not an easy job in combat. Three of my friends went to Nam and never came back. They were medic's and were always on the front line bringing back wounded.

    From your profile you are a very pragmatic individual.

    Again, thanks.
  • Doc. J sjalan 2011/10/17 05:46:13
    Doc. J
    You are welcome.
  • Bob Pooba 2011/10/17 02:44:18
    Bob Pooba
    I don' t see that Americans in general are sad.. Maybe where you live, but that probably says more about your neighborhood than America over all.
  • Ruby Dear - The Fangirl of ... 2011/10/17 01:16:58
    Ruby Dear - The Fangirl of PHAET
    +3
    I think it's incredible how willing the Danish are to all contribute to a better way of living for all.
    http://ida.dk/english/comewor...
  • Mark O'... Ruby De... 2011/10/17 01:22:21
    Mark O'Cain
    +2
    And how sad the American right won't.
  • Account Closed 2011/10/17 00:42:11
  • Mark O'... Account... 2011/10/17 01:28:53
    Mark O'Cain
    +1
    Ah, nice use of hasty generalization.
  • James Account... 2011/10/17 05:13:03
    James
    +1
    Only in the U.S. can you be labeled a prick....and consider it a compliment :-p
  • seathanaich 2011/10/17 00:08:46
    seathanaich
    +4
    Danes are also amongst the least religious people on the planet.

    Scandinavia, Canada, and Australia consistently rank as the best places on earth, every time and every way such things are measured.
  • JohnFitzgeral12 2011/10/17 00:00:14
    JohnFitzgeral12
    Denmark is one of the most homogeneous populations in the Western world.
  • Mark O'... JohnFit... 2011/10/17 00:04:40
    Mark O'Cain
    +1
    Are you trying to blame America's problems on racial integration?
  • JohnFit... Mark O'... 2011/10/17 00:05:11
  • Mark O'... JohnFit... 2011/10/17 00:06:55
    Mark O'Cain
    +2
    Just checking.
  • JohnFit... Mark O'... 2011/10/17 00:09:26 (edited)
    JohnFitzgeral12
    +1
    It was a fair question to ask.

    At times, race and culture are mutually exclusive. At other times, they're not. I believe Denmark's success is due in part to its homogeneous culture.
  • Ali ~ In My Heart I Trust ~ 2011/10/16 23:21:37
    Ali ~ In My Heart I Trust ~
    +3
    Enlightened capitalism. I like that. Good for Denmark.
  • TheMadChameleon 2011/10/16 22:57:29
    TheMadChameleon
    +3
    I'd heard this on multiple occasions. Good going, Denmark!
  • Orangedragan 2011/10/16 22:49:45
  • maggiemay 2011/10/16 22:44:26
    maggiemay
    I have a great idea. Buy a ticket, and move there:)
  • Mark O'... maggiemay 2011/10/16 22:47:17 (edited)
    Mark O'Cain
    +1
    America will be a third world nation before you know it. And no one gives a crap. Why is that?
  • bags Mark O'... 2011/10/16 23:01:44
    bags
    +3
    Parts of it already are......
    pine ridge reservation reservation poverty reservation poverty
  • maggiemay Mark O'... 2011/10/16 23:01:55
    maggiemay
    Ah I see your profile says your Canadian. Explains much.  hoser
  • Mark O'... maggiemay 2011/10/16 23:04:01
    Mark O'Cain
    +4
    Actually, what you read was that I live in Canada, I'm 7'11" and 101 years old. I guess you believe everything you read.
  • James Mark O'... 2011/10/17 05:14:47
    James
    iron giant

    I knew I saw you somewhere..... j/k
  • seathan... maggiemay 2011/10/17 00:07:49
    seathanaich
    +2
    And your profile says USA, which explains why you are a xenophobe.
  • Ali ~ I... Mark O'... 2011/10/16 23:22:27
    Ali ~ In My Heart I Trust ~
    +1
    Yes, the GOP has treated as such for decades.
  • Fresno State Fan CB-05 2011/10/16 22:43:01
    Fresno State Fan CB-05
    +1
    I'm thinking it has more to do with the quality of the booze, the beauty of Danish women and the fact that they live in Europe and can day trip to Berlin or Stockholm whenever they feel like it.
  • JCD aka "biz" 2011/10/16 22:30:43
    JCD aka "biz"
    +2
    "They're just practicing a more enlightened kind of capitalism", I agree.

    BTW, they have just elected a center-left coalition.
  • Randy 2011/10/16 22:00:16
    Randy
    They don't have Bozo leading them!
  • Mark O'... Randy 2011/10/16 22:10:53
    Mark O'Cain
    +6
    Bush isn't leading anyone. Nor are Slanthead Hannity or "Born to Spread Conspiracies" Beck.
  • Randy Mark O'... 2011/10/17 00:41:02
    Randy
    No, I said, "Bozo."
  • Mark O'... Randy 2011/10/17 00:49:24
    Mark O'Cain
    +1
    Oh! The drug addled pedo, Limbaugh!

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