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Denmark Is Considered The Happiest Country. You'll Never Guess Why

Discussion in 'BBS Hangout: Debate & Discussion' started by bongman, Nov 19, 2013.

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  1. bongman

    bongman Member

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    The Disney of countries

    Up to you if you subscribe to the idea that we can measure that a particular group is happier than another. Nonetheless, very interesting report. The top 5 :

    1. Denmark
    2. Norway
    3. Switzerland
    4. Netherlands
    5. Sweden

    Reasons for being happy:
    - Danish families receive a total of 52 weeks of parental leave
    - Health care is a civil right -- and a source of social support
    - Gender equality
    - Danish culture puts a positive spin on its harsh environment
    - Danes feel a responsibility to one another

    They can stick that SOCIALISM and environmental awareness mumbo jumbo up their arse. We're muricans and there is no need for everybody to be happy.
     
    #1 bongman, Nov 19, 2013
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  2. AroundTheWorld

    AroundTheWorld Member

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    I lived there for a couple of years. They are just as happy or not happy as most other people. They do like to drink and party, though. But they lack sunlight in the winter.

    They do have problems with immigration. You can google that.
     
    #2 AroundTheWorld, Nov 19, 2013
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  3. bigtexxx

    bigtexxx Member

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    I've spent time in Copenhagen, and found it to be a tremendously boring place (likely explains all the drinking and partying). Yes, lots of issues with Muslim immigrants, also. Cold and gray in the winter, nice in the (short) summer.

    Wouldn't be high on my list of places to move to, even within Europe.
     
    #3 bigtexxx, Nov 19, 2013
  4. fchowd0311

    fchowd0311 Member

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    Are you attributing the boredom to socialism? Or are you just ignoring the premise of the thread topic?
     
    #4 fchowd0311, Nov 19, 2013
  5. bigtexxx

    bigtexxx Member

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    providing backdrop on the country

    the OP didn't provide the necessary proof to tie happiness and socialism. He needs to provide additional proof of the linkage.
     
    #5 bigtexxx, Nov 19, 2013
  6. LonghornFan

    LonghornFan Member

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    52 weeks of parental leave? That's a BIT too much. I have a coworker out for 12 weeks on maternity leave, full pay, plus she still gets her 4 weeks of vacation. I believe that's plenty.
     
    #6 LonghornFan, Nov 19, 2013
  7. bongman

    bongman Member

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    So are we saying that the when the survey was done, most Danish folks were under the influence - hence happier? We all know alcohol can place you in a temporary state of glee but once that is gone, we are usually back to our normal emotional state.

    According to the report, the survey about an individual's state of happiness was based on the following factors... real GDP per capita, healthy life expectancy, having someone to count on, perceived freedom to make life choices, freedom from corruption, and generosity

    I don't know if you can state that the general population of most countries will have the same perception of their level of happiness based on those factors.
     
    #7 bongman, Nov 19, 2013
  8. bongman

    bongman Member

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    It probably depends on how you want your kids raised. My ex wife and I decided that we did not want to send our 4 month old baby to the care of baby sitters as it was important for us to be the ones giving him care. I quit my job so I can find a job where I can work graveyard. It was very difficult but well worth it in my opinion.
     
    #8 bongman, Nov 19, 2013
  9. tallanvor

    tallanvor Member

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    How many people do you think risk life and limb to get to Denmark?

    There is no environmental awareness on that list and lol at 'gender equality' . Yeah nobody has that :rolleyes:

    The secret to happiness: not freedom or opportunity or success, but lots of paternity leave and putting a positive spin on the weather.
     
    #9 tallanvor, Nov 19, 2013
    Last edited: Nov 19, 2013
  10. bongman

    bongman Member

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    If what you are saying is... since there's not a whole lot of folks risking life and limb to get to Denmark, then it is not really the happiest place in the world, then I don't understand where you use that as a metric. If we want to go there, would it be fair to ask Mexicans if they had a choice, given the same risk and educate them about life in Denmark, do you honestly think they will pick America?

    Some people find joy in being a missionary and some also do by knowing they are doing something have a cleaner environment.

    I feel that is too simplistic of a view. Having more paternity leave gives the parents more time with their babies to bond, more personal care, etc which from what they believe leads to healthier and better developed kids.

    If I am reading the reports correctly, what makes a particular happy is not based on not ONE factor - it is a combination of all of the above.
     
    #10 bongman, Nov 19, 2013
  11. tallanvor

    tallanvor Member

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    What I am saying is how many people in this great big world do you think are trying to get to super-happy Denmark?

    There is nothing about a cleaner environment in that list. It says 'Danish culture puts a positive spin on its harsh environment'. That simply means they joke about the weather.

    well **** then lets do 150 weeks. Screw 52 weeks. Who the hell needs jobs?

    Which is what I said. According to you happiness stems from a combination of paternity leave, joking about the weather, and gender equality.
     
    #11 tallanvor, Nov 19, 2013
  12. AroundTheWorld

    AroundTheWorld Member

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    bongman, just curious, what do you actually know about Denmark? Have you been there?
     
    #12 AroundTheWorld, Nov 19, 2013
  13. bongman

    bongman Member

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    Maybe this article will open up their eyes. What you think?

    So that is why 50% ride bikes.

    "Half of commuting happens on a bike in Copenhagen and that doesn't just improve fitness levels and reduce carbon emissions, it also contributes to the wealth of the city"

    In case you missed it...

    "In Denmark, 79 percent of mothers return to their previous level of employment, compared to 59 percent of American women. These resources mean that women contribute 34 to 38 percent of income in Danish households with children, compared to American women, who contribute 28 percent of income. "

    I didn't say that, the report did. That was their basis of how to measure cultural happiness. You might be conflating individual to cultural happiness.

    These countries have provided us a model on how a government can make most of their people happy. It is up to you if you want to ignore it and live in your bubble. If facts and statistics can't convince you that the top 5 happiest cultures have adopted the same methodology, I certainly can't.
     
    #13 bongman, Nov 19, 2013
  14. geeimsobored

    geeimsobored Member

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    Canada has up to 52 weeks of paternity leave. However, paid leave only goes up to 35 weeks and you can split those 35 weeks between the mother and father. Also the paid benefit is only partial payment of the full salary.

    We need something like that in the US.
     
    #14 geeimsobored, Nov 19, 2013
  15. bongman

    bongman Member

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    I know very little about the country but as I stated, that report was interesting and should be an eye opener to a lot of people. A lot of us have been set on our old ways and traditions on how the people should be governed. In the US, there is too much politicizing on health care, child care, environmental effects, etc. This report shows us, what can happen if certain governmental and cultural mindsets are adopted.
     
    #15 bongman, Nov 19, 2013
  16. tallanvor

    tallanvor Member

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    because they can't afford a car. Or because they don't need a car since they have no place to go and the roads are frequently undrivable. take your pick.

    Yes and all these laws make companies say '**** doing business in Denamrk'.

    The very next sentence you confirm you believe the study....

    They aren't happy. Your study is just dumb and for some reason you don't question that happiness might not stem from paternity leave.
     
    #16 tallanvor, Nov 19, 2013
  17. Major

    Major Member

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    "Success" was covered as GDP/capita was a part of it. But are you surprised that things like freedom or opportunity weren't important compared to actual reality? Someone who lives in poverty may have a theoretical opportunity to be a billionaire, but if he has no food or health care or struggles in his daily life, that opportunity isn't going to mean very much. That seems like common sense.

    The idea that money = happiness that drives much of our philosophy is an interesting one. Is the goal of life to maximize income or happiness? Should the theoretical goal of government be to help its citizens maximize income or happiness (or something else)?
     
    #17 Major, Nov 19, 2013
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  18. leroy

    leroy Member
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    Man, I would have loved if that much was available to my wife or myself. 12 weeks paid and you get to keep your vacation? That's freaking awesome.

    I remember in the early days of my company when we were headquartered out of New Zealand. We had a small staff in Austin and one of the females was pregnant. At the time, we didn't have a policy for our office. The Kiwi's didn't want to give her any leave and, in fact, wanted to fire her essentially for being pregnant. They didn't understand that our government doesn't cover such things and didn't think it was the company's problem. In the end, she got 6 weeks unpaid and had to use whatever vacation she had left to cover her...plus short-term disability.
     
    #18 leroy, Nov 19, 2013
  19. rocketsjudoka

    rocketsjudoka Member

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    #19 rocketsjudoka, Nov 19, 2013
  20. bongman

    bongman Member

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    I have provide a link to a report which confirms reality. Where's yours? LOL.
     
    #20 bongman, Nov 19, 2013
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