Who are the happiest people in the world?
Below I have posted a link to ABC news. If you do not have time to read the article you should watch the video.
The link, I believe, relates to what we talk about in class – the difference between the social democratic model of welfare (Keynes) and the liberal/conservative model (Friedman). I believe the main reason why people in Denmark are happy or contend is because they have a secured future. The government takes care of them from cradle till grave.
September 30th, 2008 at 10:39 pm
I actually very surprise to hear that Denmarkians most happy. The place just always seem so secluded from the rest of the world, not that they are though. It makes you wonder, how can a place like Denmrk get it right but the richest country in the world can’t. I quess the fact that we are one ofte ricest country in the world should say a lot. When reading the article I was fore quessing that it probably was Australia. I would mind paying high taxes like Denmarkains as long as I knew that my health, and future was taking over, who wouldn’t.
October 1st, 2008 at 12:06 pm
The article was really intersting, it’s remarkable to hear that a country like Denmark has the happiest people in the world. I would be happy too…even though the taxes are high, the government actually puts it to use, by covering health care, education and even financing local gatherings,etc…And even though most jobs are alike when it comes to income, it gives people a sense of class, for example the garbage collector affords to live in a middle class community and has pride in his job and lifestyle, he can still afford to live like others whose jobs are higher up. I really didn’t know which country had the happiest people in the world, but the survey provides an intersting insight.
Roshni Ally
October 2nd, 2008 at 12:26 am
I may be cynic, but the first thing I thought of after watching this video wasn’t “wow those people look so happy”, it was rather “wow, do only white people live there?”. Granted, I do not know if Denmark has a very multi-racial society, but I tend to believe that Denmark probably doesn’t possess many asians, hispanics, africans, italians, filipinos, irish etc. Not to say the state shouldn’t be commended for what they do for their citizens, but I feel it’s much easier when the population is a homogeneous one.
October 2nd, 2008 at 11:13 am
Immigrants and their descendants make up 8,9 % of the population in Denmark. So yes – you can say that it is a fairly homogeneous society. It is not an old colony like the US.
And I believe you are right in your argument. People can probably more easily relate to one another when they are of the same descend.
October 2nd, 2008 at 7:43 pm
Its true that Denmark may be the happiest country on earth, but thats not what the U.S. was built on. The founding father’s built it on the principles of freedom especially individual freedom. Yes it comes at a cost, with inequality, but freedom and rights was at the heart of the constitution. When people come to the states, some leave their happy but comfortable environment to come and pursue their individual dreams, then when they achieve them, they start pursuing happiness. Look at Bill Gates, Andrew Carnegie, and other moguls who achieved their dreams first and now are giving back to society in the pursuit of happiness. If you were to ask me to choose between Denmark and America, I’d still choose America, because here I have more freedom and more coming together (melting pot) of people.
Let me pose another question. Would you rather leave a comfortable deterministic live controlled by your parents or other authority figure or an unsure life without someone looking over you where you have more control of your destiny.
October 5th, 2008 at 5:44 pm
Although the United States may provide freedom and oppurtunity, the reason we are so unhappy is because their are so many flaws in this country when it comes to things like class equality, healthcare, and education. Our country is so driven by greed and making money that we often overlook other important things in our life that make us happy. Thats why countres like Denmark are considered the happiest, beacuse in those countries you and your family are well taken care of and there is alot more equality among individuals.