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Saturday, July 07, 2007
Maybe Denmark?
After seeing Michael Moore's Sicko, I thought I might just move to France where everyone has health-care, a minimum of five weeks vacation, and not only free daycare for their kids, but also free college. But as Otowi reminded me, the French aren't hijab-friendly. I'm not Muslim and I don't wear hijab (but you can see me in one, by clicking here). Since I have a problem with a country that has a problem with hijabs, I decided to check out the Scandinavian countries by emailing my friend who has been there for the last month. I haven't yet heard of any issues with scarves in that part of the world. Here are some of my friend's observations:
All of Scandinavia is very expensive as the dollar is not worth much. The taxes are very high in Denmark, Norway and Sweden. I know the most about Denmark where taxes are 40 to 50% and with all the other taxes is about 83%. However people are taking care of from cradle to grave - health care, education, 5 weeks vacation, both parents get generous time off when a child is born - 48 weeks for an adoption and day care is paid for beginning at 6 months. However if people have money they pay for maybe better health care. It's hard to make much money but very few fall thru the cracks. There is just no homelessness in Denmark - as they say no reason for it. Very clean country. These countries belong to the EU but have their own currency and it is different in each country. In Denmark one sees many people all ages esp. females riding their bikes as they have great bike paths everywhere. Gas is about $5 a gallon - there are cars, all small, but not lots of traffic. In Norway and Sweden any liquor is very highly taxed - so much is bought in Denmark and brought over. Drunk driving is NOT tolerated .
The first night in Sweden we each had a hamburger and fries - $25 apiece. A beer in a small glass is $10.
In Stockholm most of the elderly are taken care of in their own homes - not nursing homes- food, cleaning, dressing them etc is provided - sounds good - don't know how it works in reality. Gays are very accepted and Denmark was the first country to recognize same sex marriages.
What do you think? Time to form a hamburger/french fry-free hippy commune in Denmark???
All of Scandinavia is very expensive as the dollar is not worth much. The taxes are very high in Denmark, Norway and Sweden. I know the most about Denmark where taxes are 40 to 50% and with all the other taxes is about 83%. However people are taking care of from cradle to grave - health care, education, 5 weeks vacation, both parents get generous time off when a child is born - 48 weeks for an adoption and day care is paid for beginning at 6 months. However if people have money they pay for maybe better health care. It's hard to make much money but very few fall thru the cracks. There is just no homelessness in Denmark - as they say no reason for it. Very clean country. These countries belong to the EU but have their own currency and it is different in each country. In Denmark one sees many people all ages esp. females riding their bikes as they have great bike paths everywhere. Gas is about $5 a gallon - there are cars, all small, but not lots of traffic. In Norway and Sweden any liquor is very highly taxed - so much is bought in Denmark and brought over. Drunk driving is NOT tolerated .
The first night in Sweden we each had a hamburger and fries - $25 apiece. A beer in a small glass is $10.
In Stockholm most of the elderly are taken care of in their own homes - not nursing homes- food, cleaning, dressing them etc is provided - sounds good - don't know how it works in reality. Gays are very accepted and Denmark was the first country to recognize same sex marriages.
What do you think? Time to form a hamburger/french fry-free hippy commune in Denmark???
posted by Carol at 3:21 PM
5 Comments:
Denmark has hijab issues, too. But that's so sweet you care. The main countries that appear to have hijab issues are France, Denmark, Turkey, Tunisia, and Germany.
What about Norway or Sweden? I supposedly have distant cousins in both countries....
I've always been curious about Finland.....
This comment is to let you know that you have been tagged with a Thinking Blogger Award. Check it out.
Hey, congratulations!
Denmark isn't the only one who needs to do this.
Otowi -
Thanks for the info on the different countries. It makes me realize that no country is perfect and that one really needs to do research to know the complete picture of a country's politics.
And thanks for the congrats!
Robert -
Why THANK YOU! First I want to thank my mom and dad for giving birth to me and, somehow, against their wishes, helped make me the person I am... (complete speech, lasting 20 minutes. will be available at YouTube soon). ;-)
Really, thank you for thinking of me. Now to figure out who to tag.
Larry -
Thanks for stopping by and commenting! I viewed your blog, and if it wasn't already tagged as a Thinking Blogger, I would tag you now. I enjoyed visiting and will be back again.
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