TYT: What is the Happiest Country on Earth -- And Why?

[MrObama]

Run time: 05:33 https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wCvsrJ1QF60   Posted on YouTube: May 16, 2009 By YouTube Member: Views on YouTube: 0   Posted on DU: August 01, 2009 By DU Member: MrObama Views on DU: 1058

 

[TreasonousBastard]

1. I don't do videos because I'm on dialup, but...

I already heard it's Denmark-- largely because they have lowered expectations.

[ihavenobias]

2. I wouldn't say "largely". Maybe why they come out ahead of other social Dem. countries though...

At any rate, I think the majority of what makes them happiest can be explained by this excerpt from :

"... When I was in Denmark last year doing my radio show from the Danish Radio offices for a week and interviewing many of that nation's leading politicians, economists, energy experts, and newspaper publishers, one of my guests made a comment that dropped the scales from my own eyes.

We'd been discussing taxes on the air, what the Danes get for their average 52% tax rate (free college education, free health care, 4 weeks of vacation, being the world's "happiest" country according to research reported on CBS's "60 Minutes" TV show, etc.). I asked him why people didn't revolt at such high tax rates, and he smiled and just pointed out to me that the average Dane is very well paid with a minimum wage that equals about $18 US (depending on the exchange rate from day to day)..."

[TreasonousBastard]

5. I say "largely" because...

while they do have a fairly high standard of living, they don't have that insane drive for "more" that we share with the Brits, Japanese, and a few others. They're not doormats, just not slaves to ambition.

But, there's not a lot we can learn from the Danes-- a tiny, homogenous country that's a far different place than we are and a model we would refuse to follow. We already refused to learn from the Swedes that a socialist nanny state that insures you have a place to live, and education, health care and a pension leaves you with a lot of freedom from worry and allows you to innovate and become a better "capitalist tool."

[DutchLiberal]

3. The Netherlands hasn't had a leftwing government in more than 30 years...

Let alone a 'socialist' government! From time to time, the Labour Party joins the coalition, but since the 1990's they have basically become a corporate centrist party, much like the Democratic Party in the US.

[izquierdista]

4. Despite the weather

These results are in spite of the miserable weather in those countries. I can't speak much about Finland, and it may be a nice place if you like winter sports, but the North Sea makes the Netherlands and Denmark soggy and miserable most of the year. And being that far north, Seasonal Affective Disorder (SAD) is another thing that could diminish their happiness. They must spend some of those 10 weeks of vacation in Mallorca or Tunisia.

[timeforpeace]

6. Quite a stretch, enough so to call B.S. on this. Better ask the Bahamians how they're doin. I have.

[madrchsod]

7. i know it`s not this country

i`m glad there`s a country where there are happy people