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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
Friday, June 29, 2007
Sicko
Dear Mom and Dad,
We just got back from seeing Michael Moore's movie, "Sicko". Sorry to have to break the news, but we're moving to France. I will be studying French in all of my free time until then. We have decided that quality of life is very important and we are not going to be victims of our broken health-care system and its lobbyists anymore.
In the film, an American woman living in France said it well when she explained that in the U.S., people are afraid of the government; in France, the government is afraid of the people. The French protest on a regular basis and don't just take it when they are getting the raw end of the deal. We keep quiet, because we can't afford to lose our jobs and thus our health-care.
And Michael Moore asked a very provocative question when he asked, "Who are we?"
Who are we that we can allow our 9/11 rescue workers to be called heroes one day, but then forget them when they need medical care as a result of their heroic acts? Who are we when we can walk around a woman dying on a hospital floor? You taught me to care about my fellow man (and woman). You taught me the Christian ethic of doing unto others...
So, since the U.S. is owned by corporations whose only goal is profit, I am on a search for a place that cares a little more about its people. I know that no bureaucracy is perfect, but it would be nice to at least strive for better.
Oh, and if you want to do something to change this system we have now, you can begin by signing a petition calling on Congress to pass HR 676 for non-profit health-care for all at HealthCare-Now.org.
I'll miss ya!
me
P.S. Just to be fair, here's a link to a site that tells all the bad about Universal Health-Care. Guess I'll have to find out for myself.
We just got back from seeing Michael Moore's movie, "Sicko". Sorry to have to break the news, but we're moving to France. I will be studying French in all of my free time until then. We have decided that quality of life is very important and we are not going to be victims of our broken health-care system and its lobbyists anymore.
In the film, an American woman living in France said it well when she explained that in the U.S., people are afraid of the government; in France, the government is afraid of the people. The French protest on a regular basis and don't just take it when they are getting the raw end of the deal. We keep quiet, because we can't afford to lose our jobs and thus our health-care.
And Michael Moore asked a very provocative question when he asked, "Who are we?"
Who are we that we can allow our 9/11 rescue workers to be called heroes one day, but then forget them when they need medical care as a result of their heroic acts? Who are we when we can walk around a woman dying on a hospital floor? You taught me to care about my fellow man (and woman). You taught me the Christian ethic of doing unto others...
So, since the U.S. is owned by corporations whose only goal is profit, I am on a search for a place that cares a little more about its people. I know that no bureaucracy is perfect, but it would be nice to at least strive for better.
Oh, and if you want to do something to change this system we have now, you can begin by signing a petition calling on Congress to pass HR 676 for non-profit health-care for all at HealthCare-Now.org.
I'll miss ya!
me
P.S. Just to be fair, here's a link to a site that tells all the bad about Universal Health-Care. Guess I'll have to find out for myself.
Labels: Michael Moore, Sicko
posted by Carol at 10:01 PM
4 comments