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In Denmark, everyone is the 1%

(54 posts)

Started 11 months ago by MidWest
Latest reply from dsomers

MidWest

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http://25.media.tumblr.com/tumblr_m1ritah5yt1r4cz2xo1_1280.jpg

Must be nice to have cradle to grave security...

Posted 11 months ago #
Ballard Dad

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That's cute. Naive too, but cute.

Posted 11 months ago #
Boris

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Is fine line to walk. In CCCP Boris was proud member of 100% and all things belonging to the peoples. In Russia Boris 1% and screw little guy. Either way it suck to be you.

Posted 11 months ago #
Ballardemician

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Denmark has the world's lowest GINI index with a fairly high GDP per capita. In other words the world's biggest doing-just-fine middle class. It's like Canada on steroids with better beer and cuter girls. But I'm sure they are all miserable because of the wicked socialism being forced on them. No wait they're pretty much all happy and healthy.

Posted 11 months ago #
teigyr

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So does Denmark let anyone in who wants in? Could you or I move there and partake of the services? Seems to me the countries with the best quality of living won't take just anyone and for sure they wouldn't tolerate (or give services to) anyone not there legally.

Posted 11 months ago #
pennygirl

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I could, you couldn't Teigyr :-)

Actually you probably could - just apply for a Danish Green Card (skilled worker)

Posted 11 months ago #
Cheese

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Bloody one-percenter Vikings! Next they'll corner the spam market!

Posted 11 months ago #
Ernie

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Apparently they don't have free access to computers in the library like we do in the good ol' U S of A, hence the hand written sign.....

Posted 11 months ago #
Edog

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My Grandpa was awarded the Order of Orange-Nassau for training the Dutch to fight the Nazis in WWII but since its a Dutch award, I don't think it would earn him any special privileges in Denmark, but since most americans donKt know the difference, I bet he could tell you he had a greencard from the Danes and you would never know the difference.

Posted 11 months ago #
pennygirl

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You could move there Edog - courtesy of Mrs. E. But you'd have to do it by way of her home country. She moves there first then you join her. Easy!

Posted 11 months ago #
Edog

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That has been discussed but decided against Europe for now. Mind you we last looked it during the boom

Posted 11 months ago #
pennygirl

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How about Oz or NZ? The two of you could go there.

Posted 11 months ago #
Compass Rose

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Key part of that guy's sign: high taxes. Americans want the services but they don't want to pay for them. You can't have it both ways.

Posted 11 months ago #
wolfden

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How about Oz or NZ? The two of you could go there.

Australia? The Texas of Asia-Pacific? On the other hand NZ = one of the best places to live on this planet.

Posted 11 months ago #
NW Native

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America has never been about everyone being the same. America has always been about the opportunity to get as rich as possible.

This concept seems lost on hippies who don't understand history.

Posted 11 months ago #
MidWest

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History:

http://thinkprogress.org/economy/2011/06/20/249061/chart-taxes-economic-growth/

Posted 11 months ago #
SeaSpider

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In France they believe in "Liberté, égalité, fraternité" (Liberty, equality, brotherhood). In other words, everyone is equal and we're all in it together. In America we believe in "All men are created equal" which basically means we're born equal but after that it's "I'm getting mine, screw everyone else". You can see this on both sides of the political spectrum. On one side it's certain greedy CEO's making thousands of times more than their average employee (see Jamie Dimon) and on the other side it's certain unions that continue to demand generous pay and retirement benefits that force states and cities to cut vital services (the California Correction Peace Officers Association being a great example).

Of course the reason the Euros enjoy such great healthcare benefits, mandatory vacation time (something Americans have ZERO legal right to), parental benefits, high speed passenger rail, nice public transit, etc. is because they pay for it. In American we're loathe to pay for anything, especially something we can't own and lock up as our own. Most people seem to have no clue that parks, roads, bridges, sewer systems, water pipes etc, don't just happen on their own. They need to be paid for. We also seem to be comfortable with allowing our employers to dictate what doctors we can see and if we can be allowed to take a vacation.

As Americans we love to whine about two things: high taxes and high gas prices. Reality is we have the lowest taxes and gas prices of any industrialized nation. Listening to someone in this country whine about high taxes or gas prices is like listening to someone in Saudi Arabia whine about not having enough sand - it's the sign of someone who doesn't have the slightest f***ing clue what they're talking about! Even by our own historical standards our taxes are at record low levels, despite Obama's "socialist" policies and Bush's record spending. Taxes in year 4 of the Obama administration are still lower than they were when Reagan left office. The only area in which our taxes are higher than our overseas counterparts are corporate taxes. Theoretically we have some of the highest corporate tax rates. I say theoretically because there are so many loopholes that few if any companies every pay anything close to the top corporate tax rate. Many highly profitable companies (like Apple or Google) pay a pittance.

Posted 11 months ago #
NW Native

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Americans whine about high taxes because this country is all about paying as little tax as possible. Its called capitalism.

Posted 11 months ago #
treehugger

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SeaSpider +1!

Posted 11 months ago #
h2o_girl

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I heart SeaSpider.

Posted 11 months ago #
onederfullone

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Get.a.room.

tyvm.

Posted 11 months ago #
great idea

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"It's like Canada on steroids with better beer and cuter girls."

yeah, but the Danes still suck at ice hockey.

Posted 11 months ago #
Ballardemician

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"America has never been about everyone being the same. America has always been about the opportunity to get as rich as possible.

This concept seems lost on hippies who don't understand history."

You're being sardonic, right? Or does it really seem likely that when the founders framed the constitution they were yearning misty-eyed for a place where a tiny select few whizzed their helicopters over vast, miserable favelas from one secure compound to the next? And if so who would have thought Brazil would be better than us!

Posted 11 months ago #
Ballardemician

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Yep only average hockey.

Regardless of the equality I'd miss our beautiful mountains if Denmark became home - they've barely got hills .. .

Posted 11 months ago #
SeaSpider

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"Americans whine about high taxes because this country is all about paying as little tax as possible. Its called capitalism."

No, it's called stupidity. Seriously, are you really dumb enough to believe what you typed? Do you actually think we're the ONLY capitalist country on Earth? Saying there's no capitalism in France, Germany, etc. is like saying there's no socialism in the USA (never mind things like Medicare, Social Security, Medicaid, etc.)

Do I need to remind you it was an Italian auto company that helped bail out one of our major auto makers? Or that Airbus has been giving Boeing nightmares for a couple of decades now? Or that one of the largest video game companies is French. Or the entire Japanese automotive and electronics industries. Or Philips electronics. Or Ikea. Or Adidas shoes. Or Gucci. Or InBev (who bought Budweiser). Or Unilever. Or...I could go on for a REALLY long time here. There's plenty of capitalism in Europe.

Posted 11 months ago #
MidWest

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DaimlerChrysler...

Posted 11 months ago #
onederfullone

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Well, won't be long until Ford goes all Mexican.

Really.

NLRB will sue Boeing? Walker dart boards are just hitting Walmart, and we'll close some stuff next year to make ends meet.

God Bless America.

1% vs. 99%?

wut-eva.

Posted 11 months ago #
pennygirl

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"Of course the reason the Euros enjoy such great healthcare benefits, mandatory vacation time (something Americans have ZERO legal right to), parental benefits, high speed passenger rail, nice public transit, etc. is because they pay for it."

Part of this isn't entirely true. You don't have to pay for anything to get free healthcare in the UK. I doesn't matter if you don't pay a lick of NI or Tax, you are still entitled to it. In theory everyone from the geezer who lives under Waterloo Bridge to a Westminster toff is entitled to the same level of care. You also don't have to be a UK citizen.

Posted 11 months ago #
oldguybc

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Pennygirl, just saw "Life of Brian" last weekend and noticed in the crucifixion scene, just before the song, when they found out that a Samaritan was being crucified and all the Jewish people objected strenuously, someone said, "What next? Swedes and Welsh?"

How very MyBallard...

Posted 11 months ago #
NW Native

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SeaSpider are you actually disputing that Americans want to pay to as low of taxes as possible?

Where did I say that capitalism doesn't exist elsewhere? What was the point of your rant?

This a far more greedy country than others, you choosing to villify that doesn't add anything to the conversation.

Posted 11 months ago #
Ballardemician

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NW do you think America's characteristic greed is driven to an extent by lack of state support for healthcare, college and the like? I think I'd be less obsessed with getting ahead if I felt like I could rely on anything but myself. But I can't, so job one is to amass as much wealth for my family as possible. Or is this greed just a continuing manifestation of our history as a place where one goes to make one's fortune?

It's interesting that we do tend, as a society, to be wealth obsessed, yet we are the kings of personal debt too. We want the stuff but not the sacrifice it requires.

Posted 11 months ago #
pennygirl

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America's greed is driven by greed and not knowing any different. Everyone wants to make enough money so their family will be taken care of, but it seems that over here it's the only thing that drives people.

I remember when I first moved over here (20 years ago) and listening to someone talk about getting a credit card so she could build up her credit. I had no idea what she was talking about. I didn't have a credit card in the UK, and it didn't make any sense to my why you would borrow money just for the sake of it. She explained that she wanted to get a car loan and a mortgage. That is when I knew that this country is ass backwards.

Posted 11 months ago #
iPlod

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Not if you're benifiting from backwards asses or vegetable mortgages.

Posted 11 months ago #
pennygirl

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No-one benefits from either iPlod. I think we have solved the financial crisis.

Posted 11 months ago #
iPlod

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I was going to say, "Nope, there are plenty of benifits from backwards asses because they are the vegetables with mortgages.", but that would only incite class warfare so I'm not going to say it.

Posted 11 months ago #
pennygirl

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Best to keep it to yourself I think.

Posted 11 months ago #
oldguybc

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Pennygirl... what's with this sudden burst of moral outrage?
Did the thought of crucifixion with Swedes really bother you that much?

Posted 11 months ago #
pennygirl

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I lost sleep over it oldguy :-)

Posted 11 months ago #
NW Native

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Yet here you are pennygirl, still here. If this place is so bad, why didn't you go home to the UK?

Posted 11 months ago #
great idea

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I'll bet she stayed because she was in love.

that's the only reason anyone would stay in this ass-backwards country with an alternative option.

Posted 11 months ago #
Edog

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I think she stayed becuase she wanted to carry a gun, either that or becuase she could not get enough of American disco!

Posted 11 months ago #
great idea

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when I said 'in love' I meant with the TV show 'Dallas'.

which, of course is why she craved a firearm, she's got to boogie on the disco 'round oh yea

Posted 11 months ago #
pennygirl

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Because I have two kids NW Native. Don't fancy being 6000 miles away from them. Don't worry - I'll be off once kid #2 is in college.

Posted 11 months ago #
VeganBiker

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PG - I believe your reference to free health care might not be totally correct. In about 2007 I was back in Wales cleaning out my dad's house as it was going up for sale and I got a really bad cold. I went to the local GP and because I had lived outside the UK for more than 5 years I was not entitled to free health care! I had to pay, it was not much and I could probably have had my insurance company cover it but still it was odd that a foreigner could get free care and here I was with a UK passport and I had to pay.
I have to say that there are a lot of things that I like about living here in the US and I really would not go back to live in the UK.
Do you think you will go back and live in Wales?

Posted 11 months ago #
pennygirl

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That's odd Vegan. I've never had to pay over there. Even my kids were treated free of charge and they've never lived in the UK. Wales? I'll probably end up back there at some point :-)

Posted 11 months ago #
VeganBiker

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PG - I know, I was surprised, I think it was that the GP was on the ball. I did look it up and he was correct:
"You’ve been working abroad for no longer than 5 years, but have lived legally in the UK for ten continuous years at some point."
I had been working here in the US for more than 20 years.
Info is here:
http://www.avert.org/freenhs.htm
Funny thing is I was just looking up property for sale in mid Wales last night:
http://www.evansbros.net/
Some really nice places for sale.

Posted 11 months ago #
dsomers

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Vegan and Pennygirl,

I am curious....what makes one of you feel you would prefer to be here and one that you will probably end up back in Wales?

I only ask out of curiousity. Am always interested in why folks who grew up in other countries feel as they do about the US and where they came from. Rick Steve's did an interesting interview last weekend with 3 people from different European Countries who have been living here a while and what there thoughts were about their homes and here. It was a very interesting interview.

D

Posted 11 months ago #
Edog

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Vegan - The market for realestate in Europe has been crap. If one had money, now is the time to buy.

Posted 11 months ago #
VeganBiker

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Edog - I know! If one has some spare cash there are some bargains to be had over there.

Posted 11 months ago #
VeganBiker

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dsomers - Some of the issues for me are:
I worked most of my life here in the US and my pension + SS goes a lot further here that if I was to move back to the UK, although I would not have to pay tax on it if I did move.
The UK that I grew up in has changed a lot since I lived there, and I have fond memories of how it used to be, it will never be the same for me.
I like it here, I have everything I could want and more.
I like the general positive attitude of the people here. If you have never experienced a totally unhelpful British sales person that would try to convince you that you can't buy what you want anywhere and then you find it just down the street in another shop, well let me tell you that is frustrating.
I guess I have been "Americanized" and for me that is not a bad thing.
As you know, I don't agree with a lot of things that the US does in the world and there are big problems here socially and economically but I still feel better off. So I am staying.
In fact I was almost wondering if it is worth renewing my UK passport when it expires in 2019 because I have dual citizenship and would use my US passport for travel.

Posted 11 months ago #
Edog

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Renew it. Even if you are not sure you would use it. When you change your mind, it will be a pain to revisit.

Posted 11 months ago #
VeganBiker

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Edog - yes you are right, it is just that it cost me around $200 last time and I dread to think what it will be in 2019! And I did read somewhere that there was a plan to make all passport renewal available only in the UK, now that would be a pain.

Posted 11 months ago #
Edog

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But think of the value you get with a UK passport. I mean, what do others pay for a US, or a UK passport let along both! Rather what would others do.

Posted 11 months ago #
dsomers

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Thanks VB! Appreciate the insight. Sometime perhaps we can talk about this more over a beer. Edog....are you an expat from the UK as well? Would be interested in hearing your thoughts too. And maybe Pennygirl could join us for her Point of View?

I am ashamed to say I have never been to the UK. Would love to and it is at the top of my wish list. My sweety got over there in college though and has other plans for our travels. A return to the UK for her would be redundant. I will keep working on it though. That and places like Italy, France, Germany, Norway, Europe and northern Europe in general intrigue me. And NZ.

Thanks again VB! Hopefully will see you around town as we swerve around the potholes of Seattle on the bikes!! (sorry....potholes is a rather negative way of putting it. I usually think of them as opportunities for sportscar like maneuvering!)

Dave

Posted 11 months ago #

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