Comments on: And The Happiest Place On Earth Is...

Morley Safer On Why The Danes Are Considered The Happiest People On Earth

[akja1]

The story about Denmark on 60 Minutes is only half the truth. I was born and grew up in Denmark, and it is not nearly the paradise that the show described. Yes, there is help and assistance from the state, but you pay darly for it, f.inst. a normal tax rate of 50% on an ordinary salary. Also, the state smothers you to the effect that Denmark can be considered a kindergarten for adults, all the way to the grave.
Life in the USA is so much better for the individual.

[linda_dk]

This is SO FUNNY, :-O im a dane'' and i find this article quiet funny haha.

BTW not eveybody is paying 50% tax''es im paying 39 and dont forget alle thee good stuff in the end of the year takeing the transport, train/car/bus from shcool to work and home. :-D

i have been notice more americans in denmark then befoore the last few years

[easeup-2009]

"But money won''''t buy happiness.

Posted by elkgirl1 at 03:55 PM : Feb 18, 2008"

Ever notice that only people without money make this statement?

[elkgirl1]

The Dane''s have it....content and not greedy. I''d live over there in a heartbeat. I guess the Americans just want to live here and try to keep up with the Jones'' and have the Mexicans bumbard us with their presence so that we can support them. Be happy with what you have, I''m not saying be lazy etc. But money won''t buy happiness.

[easeup-2009]

"I see that all the Conservative "Stup''''s" are out here complaining about the Danes Socialized med. system.. It is a great system, and just like all the other Free World Nation of Canada, Britain, Germany, France,and Australia, It works.. We need that system here in America.. Screw the Republicans, they got us into the mess that the USA is in.. The Democrats will have to get us back on track.. Just like Bill Clinton did, after Bush41, so will Hillary do, after bush42..

Posted by jamurphy4 at 02:16 PM : Feb 18, 2008"

Clinton did WHAT for health care? Even Democrats hated Hillary''s plan.

How''s the Kool-Aid?

[jamurphy4]

I see that all the Conservative "Stup''s" are out here complaining about the Danes Socialized med. system.. It is a great system, and just like all the other Free World Nation of Canada, Britain, Germany, France,and Australia, It works.. We need that system here in America.. Screw the Republicans, they got us into the mess that the USA is in.. The Democrats will have to get us back on track.. Just like Bill Clinton did, after Bush41, so will Hillary do, after bush42..

[ruth2008]

To 60 Minutes regarding the report on happiness in Denmark

Please investigate the possibility that Herring is the reason for Denmark''s happiness. Vilhjalmur Stefansson, who lived with Eskimos for a number of years, participating in their diet of only animal origin, wrote the following in an article entitled "Adventures in Diet," Harper''s Monthly Magazine, December l935: "That meat, as some have contended is a particularly stimulating food I verified during our New York experiment [eating only meat] to the extent that it seems to me I was more optimistic and energetic than ordinarily. I looked forward with more anticipation to the next day or the next job and was more likely to expect pleasure or success. This may have a bearing on the common report that the uncivilized Eskimos are the happiest people in the world. There have been many explanations - that a hunter''s life is pleasant, and that the poor wretches just don''t know how badly off they are. We now add the suggestion that the optimism may be directly caused by what they eat." If the above is true, and we wish for the world to be a more sensible, cooperative, optimistic place, then the next step could be to provide a similarly optimal healthful quality of food to the human inhabitants.
Herring probably has little competition in its quality for human consumpation.

[be_thechange]

From some comments it seems we have a lot of people who have no idea what socialist democracy means. Yes, every working able body pays a high tax (35-50%) depending on the country, to have all the freedoms we have plus top quality facilities for health (newborn expenses,primary care, hospital, dental, vision and hearing),education (daycare, primary, secondary and university with incentives), time with family (one year paid to be with a newborn for each parent alternately and 5-6 weeks mandatory vacation per year), care for family members with disabilities (daycare and special institutions), eldercare (daycare, nursing home and hospice). In other words, by everyone thinking about everyone, each individual can be free of the anxiety, financial loss, family stress and guilt that we have in the USA when we try to foot it alone. What do you think it costs over a lifetime paying American private professionals and institutions for these things? The Swedes and Danes have all the freedom of democracy, plus these social benefits, no mass-murders and Unibombers, and contribute respectably to the greater European market and civilization as a whole (literature, arts, industry advances). American cowboys who want to ride off into the sunset waving the hat of "I''m free!" need to understand that the Swedes and Danes are even freer because they are smart enough to care about everyone, not just their right to fight it out in the American Dream''s "rat race".

[mjkartgal]

don''t laugh unless you''ve been there...a "settled" man/woman is content, therefore, happy. this is part of the human spirit and a God-given gift.

[prairiefox1]

THERE HAPPIER BECAUSE THEY ARE STUPID!
Posted by prairiefox1 at 01:20 PM : Feb 18, 2008

Look those calling who stupid. Sounds like you are unhappy with your life. Oh well maybe it''''s because the thugs trying to run our government will disappear in 337 days! Ha! Ha! Ha!



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Posted by leftyintexas
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I WOULD RESPOND TO THIS, BUT YOUR NAME DOES A BETTER JOB THAN I COULD ACCOMPLISH!

[easeup-2009]

"Riane Eisler''''s book, Real Wealth of Nations...creating a caring economics...shows that the Dane''''s "caring economy" pays off is so many ways. We currently have a "dominator economy" where a few at the top win, while most do not. What the Danish have proved is that "caring" is a much better system for humans and the planet.

Posted by realwealth at 12:46 PM : Feb 18, 2008"

A few at the top? Please......."Caring" rewards laziness at the expense of hardworking people. Socialism is for the lazy.

[realwealth]

Riane Eisler''s book, Real Wealth of Nations...creating a caring economics...shows that the Dane''s "caring economy" pays off is so many ways. We currently have a "dominator economy" where a few at the top win, while most do not. What the Danish have proved is that "caring" is a much better system for humans and the planet.

[go8ago8a]

Why no notes made of the rioting and fires in Denmark each day for the last week? Is the staff too old to get a move on and make things up to date or did the rioting make their preexisting propaganda-like push look too obvious? Get some younger journalists on the show and keep the stories topical when news supervenes. And maybe you could have compared the Danes to the Singaporeans where they still have a work ethic. Skol!

[petlove-2009]

We lived in Denmark for a year in 1980. We really liked it. It is a simpler life than the US, and it''s easy to see why the people there are the happiest in the world. They don''t have the worries that people in the US have. Any of us could wind up penniless and homeless due to huge medical bills or other unexpected happenstances in life. That doesn''t happen in Denmark. Takes the worry away. Also, it''s true that Americans have greater expectations (in general) than people in Denmark. The Danes love their homes and their family lives and are content with what they have. Here too many people want more and more and more stuff, only to eventualy find out that stuff doesn''t make them happy. Some people never discover that things don''t make them happy. We visited homes for the eldery in Denmark (the mother of a Danish friend of ours was in one). They are wonderful. The people are educated because it''s free. There isn''t poverty, so there is no reason for crime. It''s clean. I''d gladly pay 50% of my income to live like that. A Danish friend of ours who lived with is family in the US returned to Denmark after he had a heart attack at a relatively young age. He said if he stayed in the US, his family would not be taken care of if he died prematurely, and he did die young, and his family was fine in Denmark.

[dennismdk-2009]

"I love the Danes but I would never want to join them. Americans ARE happier and have greater opportunity. If you don''''t believe me move there and you will."

I am from Denmark, and am now living in the US. What a load of BS to say that the Americans are happier just because you have lived in Denmark. Denmark is not perfect, but I would any day prefer the Danish system than the US. That said, I know that the same system wouldn''t work over here. I like the US for many things, but I don''t like many things about the system as it is right now. The taxes are huge in Denmark and so is the wellfare level...and that is the way most Danes like it. If we had the choice to have lower taxes, but had to cut down on welfare, most Danes would prefer the higher taxes.

[specialkjunior]

It is imperative to realize that America has swamped its self in debt in its efforts to push its people and its power, influence and ideology throughout the world. Many Americans must revert to divorce even when love is present to keep their homes, to provide for their children or obtain medical care. The interviews of the rich seem meaningless--unless of course you can marry celebrity or wealth. My rules of happiness are simple Be Healthy Love what you do- Do what you want and help others be happy. This is not an easy task because depending on and using others may contribute to my happiness and not theirs. The trickle down philosphy seems to depend on financing our opportunity to avoid political and social reality. Then of course there are the wealth/health gospels of religion which suggests that if you have a lousy life then you are of course doing it all wrong. It is plausible that American happiness will decrease with economic hardship and the over abundance of greed which is the guiding hand of our way of life. The professor from Harvard should remember the hundreds of potential students who are turned away who have perfect SAT''s--In other words its difficult to suggest happiness for all when many studies and the media skue their results to protect the interests of the biggest benafactors of greed itself. This is the necessity to protect the interests of the few which distributes happiness in a very disproportionate manner.

[jerkeedoodle]

I thought it was pretty unique myself,you know yank?jerk?Yankeedoodle?I''m good at it.Got one for you,and you can even keep part of the old one.It''s jewandanasshole!

[jerkeedoodle]

jewand,Let''s not be testicle about it! You really think that about my user name,Einstein?Go figure!

[xlib]

Aw yes, 48-68% income tax and their happiness is based on what the government gives them. What wasn''t said is the fact that while your socialist candidates such as clinton, obama, kerry and ole teddy in Congress live the life of successful capitalists they want total control of OUR lives. Seems like a life of low expectations. Also funny how cbs didn''t even touch of the big time problem this happy place is haveing with muslims. Did they just forget or is it the usual not reporting the whole story.
As for the little do nothings slacker who said the American dream is dead, thanks, but I would rather work and take care of myself and not suck on the boob of the government.

[jowand]

Whattaloadabaloney!Happiest place on earth?Everybody knows it''''s the oval office when George breaks out his Ren and Stimpy collection,and he and Cheney watch them together!Happy happy,joy joy.Happy happy,joy joy!.........;)
Posted by Jerkeedoodle at 09:31 AM : Feb 18, 2008

Your name speaks everything about you.