Reforms in the danish welfare state - US could learn

Question

So here in Denmark we pay taxes, and we have a very solid welfare state, free health care, unemployment benefits, state educational money (wages), 6 weeks of vacation, a week of national holidays etc.

You know all that.. well like most other western countries in the world, we face the same problems everywhere.

Less jobs, financial crisis, an aging population, debt ect.

So what is our approach in Denmark... a balanced approach, we keep the welfare state but reform most of the programs, we try to create growth by public investments, and tax breaks to corporations (i do not agree with this) .. and we seek to raise taxes in way that makes sense.

We do not want to be Greece or Italy ... or USA. We want to keep our welfare ..

You should listen to Obama, and do as we do in Denmark.

Mikael99 · Answer

So here in Denmark we pay taxes, and we have a very solid welfare state, free health care, unemployment benefits, state educational money (wages), 6 weeks of vacation, a week of national holidays etc.

You know all that.. well like most other western countries in the world, we face the same problems everywhere.

Less jobs, financial crisis, an aging population, debt ect.

So what is our approach in Denmark... a balanced approach, we keep the welfare state but reform most of the programs, we try to create growth by public investments, and tax breaks to corporations (i do not agree with this) .. and we seek to raise taxes in way that makes sense.

We do not want to be Greece or Italy ... or USA. We want to keep our welfare ..

You should listen to Obama, and do as we do in Denmark.

Mikael99 · Answer

https://www.nytimes.com/2013/04/21/world/europe/danes-rethink-a-welfare-state-ample-to-a-fault.html?pagewanted=1&amp;_r=0&amp;ref=general&amp;src=me

Mikael99 · Answer

It should be noted that the we have a center left goverment at the helm at the moment.

They are very much at odds with their voters and still they do these reforms, for the good of the country .. as they say.

Our center left would be considered the liberal wing of the democratic party in the states.

speak2truth · Answer

NEVER compare one of those tiny, nearly all-white countries to the U.S.

WHEN you have at least 200 million people, AND more than 1/3 are non-white and the rest is a mixture of over 100 cultures, AND you have 50 legal jurisdictions in addition to the national jurisdiction, AND you have 6000 miles of borders, AND the rest of the world relies upon you to do so much for them, THEN you can start to compare.

RJSmith · Answer

[Quote: Originally Posted by speak2truth]  NEVER compare one of those tiny, nearly all-white countries to the U.S.&#xD;&#xA;WHEN you have at least 200 million people, AND more than 1/3 are non-white and the rest is a mixture of over 100 cultures, AND you have 50 legal jurisdictions in addition to the national jurisdiction, AND you have 6000 miles of borders, AND the rest of the world relies upon you to do so much for them, THEN you can start to compare.   [/Quote]Maybe it would be easier if more problems were solved on state level?Of course you can&#x27;t compare. Denmark is racist country that wants to live in the good old 1950&#x27;s. It&#x27;s the joke of Europe.Sweden on the other hand is progressive, immigrant friendly country much like the U.S.Here&#x27;s a view on Denmark from the New York Times:https://www.nytimes.com/2013/04/21/world/europe/danes-rethink-a-welfare-state-ample-to-a-fault.html?smid=fb-share&amp;_r=0

14daroad · Answer

Denmark has among the highest marginal income-tax rates in the world, with the top bracket of 56.5 percent kicking in on incomes of more than about $80,000. But in exchange, the Danes get a cradle-to-grave safety net that includes free health care, a free university education and hefty payouts to even the richest citizens.

I would note that Obama, and the people supporting him, have no interest in reforming any welfare programs what so ever. Their only thought on the issue is that welfare programs need more funding.

When Clinton signed welfare reform, a solid proportion of the Democratic party was screeching little kids would be starving in the streets. Obama, as a noted community organizer, shared that view.

thirdperson · Answer

Welfare is a social safety net that provides minimal help for the less fortunate. Denmark's strong social programs indicate a rich and compassionate nation. However not every country can afford such generosity.

American culture prefers individual independence and a lesser role for government. So the private sector is more prominant in charity. But there is more income inequality among population.

rick3117 · Answer

How could you have pride in a country that confiscates over 50% of wealth, and gives it to guys that sit home all day.  We complain about our welfare state here, and it is nowhere as bad as Denmark.

Mikael99 · Answer

We love the balanced approach and the shared sense of financial security.

Besides that our taxes are not really that much. I have a normal middle class job in the public sector and i pay 32 in income tax. Of course there are also other taxes, but we also have a lot of deductions.

Mikael99 · Answer

Oh stop .. In Denmark we realized 10 years ago we had a problem with integrating Muslim people in the country and we started to act before things spiral out of control. That is what swedes find out now, that things are out of control. Your immigration is time bomb under your welfare system , and already now your benefits and rights are a lot less than in Denmark ... why do you think that is ................

djbrow · Answer

RJ/Mikael battles are among my favorite.

canovsp · Answer

It&#x27;s good to see European liberals argue over something (Denmark vs Sweden&#x27;s immigration policy) besides their soccer teams.Mikael:You recognize a problem with immigration into Denmark. You realize right now the U.S. has an immigration problem? Currently, the immigrants who are here aren&#x27;t directly getting welfare. Once they are on the public dole taxes will have to be increased to support them (welfare, unemployment, healthcare).Does Denmark (and Sweden) give free cell phones to welfare recipients?How many children are born to unwed mothers in Scandinavia? Everyone recognizes here in the U.S. that a child raised by two parents have an advantage over children raised by single mothers. Yet, the illegitimacy rate grows and grows and those families are the ones that receive the majority of the welfare.

Mikael99 · Answer

I do not have the statistics for how many single mothers we have. But some to be sure.

No free cell phones ..

DJBrow

The swedes have a Denmark problem, until they are in Denmark , then they love Denmark because it is more free and relaxed than their own country. Funny stuff this

gers · Answer

Agree let&#x27;s see a rumble Mikey and RJ

atlheatholder · Answer

Who is providing this so-called financial security?  And why would you love sharing your financial security with others?  Ever heard of the Tragedy of the Commons?     A lot of deductions is a nice way to rephrase "we are allowed to kind of dictate how much is stolen from us".    I hope it works out for all of you in Denmark - but sadly, it won&#x27;t.

Stiln · Answer

Sweden has one of the most successful welfare systems in the country, all immigration issues aside..They have the highest level of women at work.

Reforms in the danish welfare state - US could learn

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