I'm a tour guide and I meet people from all over the world. From my vantage point (albeit limited) it seems that Norther Europeans are ery into happiness through: experience, learning, exploring. The same joy most Americans have from stuff, they seem to find in experiences.
I've met hundreds of Europeans who invest an incredible amount of time in planning and researching for travel. They show up at unglamorous, unhyped but fascinating places. I love hearing about the back-road places they people visit!
It helps that laws and social programs are designed to support these type of indulgences. For instance in Germany many public jobs sectors are allowed an extra week of paid vacation on top of regular sick and vacation days, specifically for "educational holiday". So long as the holiday has educational value, it is paid time off! So instead of the government incentivizing buying stuff, it incentivizes teachers to see great mosques and synagogues in New York. Imagine!
94
On any given day, millions of people would want to immigrate to America. No one wants to move to Finland or Iceland (another "happy place") or any other country on earth as much as they want to come here.
Any ideas why? I'd love to hear them.
17
A wonderful article.
And that stunning photo of the exercise stairs.
Just reading this article and thought photo increased my own quotient of happiness.
Merry Christmas
14
The fruit of a peaceful, self-restrained and kind culture combined with group cooperation via all the services provided for by taxes. I also note that the Finns aren't wasting their tax money on a vast military machine or military adventurism abroad. Kudos to them - an example we can all learn from.
45
Some articles:
NYT---Want to Be Happy? Try Moving to Finland.
Finland is the happiest country in the world, according to the newest World Happiness Report.
By Maggie Astor March 14.
The Fake Freedom of American Health Care
NYT Sunday Review
By Anu Partanen (Finnish journalist who moved to US after marriage.)
What Americans Keep Ignoring About Finland's School Success
The Atlantic
Here's Why Nordic Governments Are So Far Ahead of the U.S.
Tech Insider
American cable TV news ignores all this completely. Thus the positive role models don't get the debate and exposure Americans need to demand better from their elected leaders---after standing in long lines to vote.
31
Of course they're happy they don't have any garbage to cause issues and crime or take more than they put in.
When you get a chance look up the Top 10 or 20 places to live in the world and you'll see a pattern.
The more there's "Diversity" the more crime and issues there are.
They should have never allowed the media there...People from all over will come to leech and ruin what the Finns built so sweetly.
18
How much are the taxes there, in the land of "free"?" Free" healthcare, daycare, etc...
5
Low taxes = happiness.
True in Finland.
True everywhere.
@Doug Actually, they pay more taxes than we do. It is just that they don't waste them on a military that goes stomping around all over the planet. Also, they are fairly ethnoculturally homogeneous, which helps with social stability and civility. The more so since their culture stresses civility towards others. Much like American culture used to.
25
Of course they're happy. The reason is obvious.
7
I spent the first 25 years of my life in Finland. It is a great, safe place to live, whatever your income. I fully agree with Mr. Berg's definition about happiness—Finnish people are very content, but not as outwardly positive as people in the US.
However, I feel that the deep-rooted culture of egalitarianism somewhat stifles ambition among Finns. Many of our high-achieving people leave to work in bigger markets with higher compensation, such as the US. I certainly left because of those reasons.
On the other hand, when I have children, I'll seriously consider moving back. There's more to life than work, and I feel that it's a better place to raise kids than the US.
64
This article doesn’t surprise me in the least. As I’ve grown older I’ve discovered that the parts of the “American” dream that focus only on money, individualism, and “getting ahead “ are mostly empty promises. When I was fortunate enough to finally make ends meet, take care of my family, and put away a little for retirement (not until my mid forties), I found that what I missed most were deep and long lasting friendships. It’s these social ties that ultimately give life any real meaning. I’m thankful that I have finally figured this out before I’ve wasted my life chasing after the seductive dollar. I only wish our society placed more importance on the really valuable aspects of life. This, more than anything is what I think distinguishes Scandinavian countries from the US, not specific programs. Full disclosure—I’m married to a Dane and have travelled there several times so I do know what I’m talking about.
113
It seems like a nice enough place, but it's obvious that these people are sorely lacking in diversity. Maybe we should send them some.
15
@Ollie That would be mean.
9
I do not like this article; it downplays the trust we have in our government and each other. The emphasis on money and its relative advantages is a very American concept.
Finland is not perfect and people are people everywhere, but the US has a lot of work to do to rebuild trust in government and in each other. You can not improve your present circumstances without that trust; at the moment, you have a so-called leader who is actively working at destroying that trust in each other and your institutions.
Finns have suffered and rebuilt their country on the ashes of the past with some great successes but also many bitter tears. Nevertheless, they have persevered to achieve a good and happy balance. It takes continuous effort and commitment to maintain.
Americans have become lazy and self-entitled. I am 50-50 so have a perspective from the fence. I love both countries, but I don't like most Americans and I hate what is being done to the land and environment in the US.
26
That is not a "town" it's a club. A club of well off, healthy, educated, homogenized, 99% white European people of almost identical backgrounds and interests .... of course they are happy. It would be living with ten of your own clones and claiming not to like your roommates.
16
@John Smith
Nope, not european, not even scandinavian.... ..those are all indoeuropean decents... Latest research has proven that there are european and then there are finnish genes and people... Our language is among the ten oldest in the world. Why aren't all the other old cultures equally marked in this aspect?? We're not a club of well off... ..not by far... We are diverce in social standards as are all. We just work for the idea of equity and actual common wealth in society which brings a generation after a generation where our aim is not to leave a child behind but aspire for everyone to have a proper chance in life through education...
27
@John Smith Sour grapes?
3
This is what you can have when you invest in people and their happiness instead of just investing in big business and cutting everything else.
You get the country you pay for. When you keep cutting taxes over and over again, especially for people and corporations that don't need it, while giving practically unlimited funding to military contractors, you can't afford to live well. When will we learn?
103
Oh my goodness! I had to stop and look again. The girl in the picture of kids in school just right of center with the vaguely asiatic features, looks just like my Finnish grandmother did at 16 when she left by herself to come to America in 1911. Her sisters used to call her "the Mongol" because everyone else in the family was blond and light complected. Wow, thanks. This article takes me back and reminds me that I have to call Eino and Liissa and let them know that we're coming in August.
9
Given Finland's bizarre experiences during WW II, it is a miracle that there even IS a Finland. My hat's off to them.
35
I'm not surprised to see the NYT and its readers continuing to use the term "free" when referring to Finland's healthcare, education, etc. Let's be clear: it's not "free" - they pay for it through their taxes.
Here's a simple question: How much of *your* income are you willing to give to the government to ensure the delivery of these types of services all 330+ million (and counting) people in the US?
12
@Kparker: the article DOES say that "taxes are high by American standards".
22
@Kparker...
Let's be clear. Nobody says their health care is "free." That's NEVER said in any news report. Only that's it's accessible so people don't die or go bankcrupt, like here for generations.
Of course it's paid for by taxes---in dozens of countries--- for generations already--- with full support of citizens AND of their conservative parties, even if they make budget cuts. No party runs on turning over h/c to 'free' privatized markets.
Let's be clear. Their taxes in these countries are adequate and progressively fair, per level of income. The burden isn't dumped on their average earners. The rich pay their fair share, so health care is a right of all.
Let's be clear. Their rw parties don't try to destroy their health care, like our GOP does.
Let's be clear. Unlike the US, medical care is not a high profit center, and corporate money doesn't dominate their elections campaigns.
Here's a clear contrast ---see the True Cost Blog for dates when countries started their universal, affordable health care. Their insurance mandates have govt regulated premiums, that are politically accepted.
We're not there yet in the 21st C.
Partial list:
Finland 1972 Single Payer
Switzerland 1994 Insurance Mandate
Japan 1938 Single Payer
Sweden 1955 Single Payer
Australia 1975 Two Tier
Netherlands 1966 Two-Tier
Germany 1941 Insurance Mandate
France 1974 Two-Tier
Norway 1912 Single Payer
Austria 1967 Insurance Mandate
Italy 1978 Single Payer
34
Keeping things small, schools, government, community endeavors makes people Happy.
14
I hope someone will send this to Paul Krugman, to help him further think through his ideas on a mixed economy for the USA.
4
The idea of happiness is definitely attractive. However, two other yardsticks might have a better shared definition. Safety and social connectedness.
Do Americans feel safe?
Financially?
Physically (crime, rampant gun ownership, lack of affordable health care)?
Do Americans feel connected socially? (Loneliness, suicide, depression)
I think Americans love affair with rugged individualism could stand some examination. The costs are so high.
53
@Jody Lee It used to work fine, precisely because it also included a connected society with a shared culture and personal physical safety. Violent crime per capita is more than doubled since 1960, our last "Mayberry" year.
1
G: This is the community where I grew up. It was settled along the railroad as a "garden city" modeled after the English movement in the early 1900's. This was a place where families of artists and others where able to flee the "unhealthy" city air to live close to nature. The sense of community among these people was particularly strong exemplified by the founding of a school system and many civic organizations. In 1920 Kauniainen became an community independent of Espoo and in 1972 it gained the status of a city.
22
This is a fraud.. WE know there is no richness no strength with only colorless people
7
@Laquisha Reynolds
Did you look at the photo of the four students? Have you been to Finland? There are people of "color" there. I've been there.
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@Laquisha Reynolds
What on earth are you talking about? Have you ever been to Finland. Did you know that there were African people living in Finland before 1900?
11
@Julie Carter
Exactly. Why wouldn't we have immigrants like any other European country, or USA?
Finland has changed a lot during the past three decades and allures foreign studens. Education is free and ranks high in quality.
I happened to grow up in the hearth of Kauniainen!
Finland is also a safe place to live, children walk to school, parents don't have drive them there.
My apologies for possibly defective English, which is my third language; Kauniainen is bilingual and i grew up surrounded by Swedish language.
14
It would be quite entertaining to see Karl Ove Knausgård comment on this..........................
It's not just Finland but people in most of Northern Europe seem to be fairly happy. Not one of my European relatives complains about their country and they have nothing but praises for their health care. After surviving two long wars they have seen the error of their ways. Would it take something like that to change us? I hope that the current kleptocracy is a milder lesson for us.
37
What TOWN?
9 608 inhabitants!
All rich, no poor people around at all.
Where is a research about Malibu happiness?
I don't believe that people of Malibu are less happier! Though Malibu much bigger - 12 645 inhabitants!
3
@John The proportion of low-earners in Kauniainen is the same as in the rest of Finland. It's right there in the article, if you care to read it. And the good people of Malibu (I lived there once) are not so happy, because so much of it burned in the latest fire.
13
@John They don't have our type of poor. Also, if Malibians are happy, why they are on drugs?
4
Meanwhile, back in the USA, we're STILL waiting for the blessings of "trickle-down economics" to come showering down on us all. One more tax-cut should do the trick, we're told. Just get rid of those pesky government regulations and let the "invisible hand of the market" solve all problems! Infrastructure crumbling? Let "Dominoes Pizza" fix the potholes! But God forbid that a hedge fund manager should have to pay a higher tax rate than a secretary!
Sometimes I just think Americans are too stupid to have nice things.
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@Bruce Jones
Are you, God forbid, implying that we are too stupid to rule the world?
4
@Bruce Jones
Yes, higher taxes and more government regulations are the solution.
6
@mjazzguitar
Actually, they are. Read some history and not just right-wing propaganda.
14
I've been to Sweden, Norway and Finland. In the winter. These were business trips and about ten years ago. What struck me most as to why things run well are the following:
- Homogeneous population
- Generally conservative attitudes towards work and money
- MUCH better government than in America
- Elected officials actually do what is good for the country and town
- Most people are serious about being good citizens and think of others in addition to themselves
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@Blankovich Finland should rule the world. There values are true and visible in everyday life. Ours are screamed on TV and pronounced in our government officials speeches. That's all.
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@Blankovich
I can attest. My uncle Eino was an ambassador and then a Permanent Minister of Finland for years. Pretty much everyone agrees on what comprises good government and how to deliver it. A Trump would never be elected president but he would receive top quality mental health care for free in an institution that is clean, friendly, well run and has access to forests and hiking. He would be encouraged to eat better and get exercise.
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@cellodad: the best comment so far!
6
A Scandinavian economist once stated to Milton Friedman: "In Scandinavia we have no poverty." Milton Friedman replied, "That's interesting, because in America among Scandinavians, we have no poverty either."
24
That’ll be news to my Danish-American cousins in rural New York, where the per capital income is $17,000.
3
Scandinavians do exceptionally well in all systems which I attribute to their ethos of hard work, education and personal morality as opposed to their “system”.
As a matter of fact Scandinavians thrive wherever they go and contribute to society instead of filling jails and collecting subsidies.
I’m of the belief that you can have either socialism or multiculturism. Perhaps someone can tell me where Socialism works better than free market capitalism in a large diverse population.
11
@TR88 Germany. It's hybrid of Socialism and capitalism, and it works.
6
@TR88
(a small point. Finns do not consider themselves to really be "Scandinavian" even though there are a lot of people of Swedish descent; like some of my family.)
6
@TR88 Socialism is an economic system, characterized by the state taking an equity position in profit making enterprises. It can be used or abused (e.g., using public dollars to prop up bad ideas). Multiculturism is a social system characterized by different cultures sharing and melding, where appropriate. It works quite well when the participates are adults-and act as such.
I think you meant something quite different and possibly not pleasant.
5
I loved learning about this happy town!
What good sense to build one-family houses around the town square so every door opens onto a central place for neighbors to gather.
Who wouldn't love the active center as a place to go to explore possibilities and pursue interests and talents.
I can only imagine the lowered stress with college and health costs off my to do list!
The concept of schools meant for learning, where children are respected and taught not tested.
And a government that listens and improves the lives of its citizens.
No wonder there are so many smiles!
This little Finnish town has taken life's negatives (like short days and long periods of darkness) and actually found remedies for them! They pay high taxes but feel the rewards. And none of it goes for a police station!
Focusing on the positives, as this Finnish town has, we could also begin to make the lives of our citizens less stressful and so much more meaningful! We're a large diverse country not a small, rich homogenous town, but still, little by little, I believe we each can contribute towards making a happier more peaceful place to live as our goal.
54
Where is Finland in terms of innovation? Patents? Scientific breakthroughs? Cultural achievements? I am not tryring to besmirch the Finns. I would love to be happier. I am certain other Americans would love to be happier, too. Where does the wealth of the Finns come from? I am trying to wrap my head around many of the positives of Finland with some of the questions I have about the productivity of the nation. Would any of the other readers be able to answer my questions?
7
@Former NYer and Public School Grad
Finland has plenty of achievements - a quick google will bring them up. It is a fascinating little country and worth leaning more about. Culturally, this is the country of Sibelius, technologically this is the country of Nokia (and Angry Birds), Finland has long lists of patents, etc. The people are highly educated and it shows. Finland always ranks as among the least corrupt countries in the world.
Historically, Finns held off the Russians during WWII, when there were seven Russian soldiers for every Finn. Miles of military cemeteries attest to the sacrifice.
One challenge to moving there is the language - one of the most difficult.
51
@Former NYer and Public School Grad'
I have found you a Finnish website (in English) that will explain it all:
https://teknologiateollisuus.fi/en
11
@Former NYer and Public School Grad The Wikipedia article on the Economy of Finland has some of those answers. But I think any advanced economy could replicate what the Finns do, if resources were devoted to social services like those described in this town instead of overseas wars, bloated military spending, overpriced, for-profit health care, political and economic corruption, unnecessary tax breaks for billionaires, border walls, interest payments, and other such wasteful expenditures.
66
Michael Moore, in his film "Where to Invade Next", visits and interviews citizens of a number of Countries such as Italy, France, Germany, Iceland, Finland...One quote that sticks with me from the film is a scene in Iceland where he is interviewing a number of prominent politicians, all women. All of them express the feeling they would not want to live in the United States. One of them sums it up as: "Americans are not good neighbors". That, combined with the simple fact that the United States creates an environment where citizens as a whole are not well educated (and if they do pursue advanced education, begin their adult lives with crippling student debt), receive wildly and needlessly expensive health care if they have it at all, suffer poverty and inequality under law and...The scene with Jeff Daniels in "Newsroom" also quickly lays out the description which I began to list above. Far too many people in the U.S. are content with fighting over scraps,"trickle down", and the fairy tale belief in "the American Dream". I'm still waiting to win the Lottery.
87
@James Barth
That must be why we have as many people who risk their lives coming to our country illegally as there are citizens of All of Scandinavia combined.
You seldm hear of people modifying 57 chevys into boats and crossing shark infested waters to get into Iceland.
9
@TR88 Iceland was settled by Vikings, who did just that, of course without the 57 chevys.
18
@TR88 Americans are primed to believe that US is the only country to which people are migrating. There are many more people migrating to China, Japan, Russia, India, http://www.un.org/en/development/desa/population/migration/publications/migrationreport/docs/MigrationReport2017.pdf
23
Nice comments, although the satisfaction of the Finns is not of recent manufacture. For instance, their educational system, is considered as one of the best in the world, given that the teachers have a calling, to feel proud when their students exceed their own abilities, and where students' ability to think for themselves exceeds any other discipline of self-learning, and where parental discipline is further supported by a system where participation is expected in a friendly atmosphere (rather than conflictive and adversarial). I suspect that the Finns have found happiness by 'liking all they do...instead of doing only what they like'.
33
@manfred marcus Great points and well said.
Perhaps their teachers union is not so greedy and aggressive as some of ours.
2
@Don Mac Perhaps. But perhaps it is due to the high respect, almost veneration, towards teachers, fully dedicated to their students; and they are well paid, by the way, to recognize their efforts. Incidentally, at least from my own view, teachers and nurses belong to the noblest professions on Earth, 'mentors' whose aim is to serve to the best of their abilities, and derive pleasure from it.
17
@Don Mac
The teachers in Finland are among the most highly educated as well as highly paid in the world!
12
Free healthcare, education and taking care of citizens clearly helps. In the U.S. we have a President who wants to spend $5 Billion on a wall and not help the homeless. The disparity here will grow and lead to greater anxiety, social unrest and unhappiness.
90
@Ruben Kincaid Nothing is free unless you are willing offer your time and resources I'm sure there would be no shortage of takers. Speaking of which, last time I checked they were beating down the doors to get in this country and we were still offering a very generous pallet of benefits to anyone -no questions asked.
When sir will it ever be enough?
2
@Ruben Kincaid
I suspect the lack of diversity, strong work ethic, and very low crime rates have a good deal to do with their happiness.
16
@Ruben Kincaid ..yeah right...no deadbeats..no problems
2
"the common good". So there you are the perfect Utopia mentality. I'm guessing only democrats live here. Universal health care, free education and all the sports and activities. Everything you need to keep the sheep diverted. With only 9600 people, I guess its easy to be happy anyway. No illegal immigrants to spoil anything or eat up your welfare. Don't hink they'd have all those fun sports if they were overcrowded with ppl to house and feed and a police department to pay for. This article is so one sided, it is laughable.
8
@Chance
You know nothing about Finland. Educate yourself - go there to see it for yourself. Finland has taken in some 40,000 refugees from the Middle East. Finland was also one of the poorest countries in Europe 100 years ago - they are now one of the wealthiest because they invested in their people.
53
@Chance What's laughable and sad is your ignorance and bias. No one is every happy all of the time, but life is much more satisfying when you don't have to worry about basic needs. Of course there's illegal immigration there; there is everywhere. Extrapolate this town to similar locals in the US and you'll find some common themes.
12
@KC but they did stop letting immigrants in right? And they are forced to be re-educated so they know what is expected of them as a finnish citizen . Imagen for a sec. how people would react in America if you tried to assimilate immigrants !!! Make them learn english , make them go to a reeducation school to teach them that all citizens are equal there (even women) .......
6
How can they be happy when it’s 99.9% white?
17
@TR88
99.99% actually
2
@TR88 What about people seeking a better life?
Happiness like beauty is in the eyes of the beholder.
Anytime you are anointed the happiest place you are usually not.
Anytime you are anointed the worse place on Earth, you are usually not at least in the long run.
Throughout our history more people have wanted to come and have come to America than any country on Earth. Does that make us the happiness country on earth? Maybe yes, probably no.
The goal in life should be to find happiness as best we can in a general healthy way and to advance civilization.
The great leaders taught us that, especially Lincoln.
2
The town we live in often ranks high on the list of happiest places to live in the US, and we have some of the tax subsidized services Kaukiainen has: a municipal swimming pool, an adult school with lots of classes, a community college. And we agree, by and large, that it’s worth paying for them with our taxes. I think that contributes a lot to our shared sense of wellbeing.
85
@Linda and Michael
I live in Mililani Hawai'i. We are almost as happy here as my cousins in Finland. They have less crime though and marginally better community services. We have sun all year. Fair trade.
4
I have lived in Kauniainen for 20 years and find your article very interesting. This small town was established 100 years ago by well educated people. They were both Swedish-speaking and Finnish-speaking, and the common good was their main goal. I believe that Trump voters would call us only socialists. But here the child of a cleaning woman, taxi driver or Iraqi refugee can be a doctor, scientist or managing director because she or he has equal opportunities: free schooling, free world class medical care and university studies. In America it was called an American dream...
272
@Jan Its now called the American nightmare ..160 languages spoken in schools no cohesion
11
Why run an article in a US paper about happiness in a town that is 100% homogenous? Take a look at those photos! Easy to be happy when everyone has the same religion, same traditions, same values, and same standard of living. Considering the present political climate in the world today, what is your point?
15
@El Maybe we should try an experiment: Graft that framework onto some similar-sized town here in non-homogeneous America. Apply free, high quality education, affordable, comprehensive healthcare, abundant, efficient municipal services, free college education, affordable daycare, hundreds of free activities and clubs open to all, a strong safety net for low-income families, etc. to a typical economically, religiously, racially, politically diverse population - and then let them live like that for several years. I wonder what would happen.
15
@El
Suggest you look at all the photos with the article one more time! Not 100% homogeneous.
3
@Eric
Well, it might look a bit like Canada?
7
The homogeneity and wealth of this culture accounts for a lot of their “happiness”. And it is actually contentment/satisfaction rather than happiness in my opinion. Is there something to be said for sacrifice or overcoming hardship that can lead to true happiness? Or just a life of “I’m not miserable” as one of the Finnish citizens stated? I don’t know..
10
Life is all about perspective. Could the author find all that is bad about Finland?
Sure, but I'm glad they didn't. Who wants to read about what troubles a country? Oh wait...
7
@Scott Franklin
Then they should write about 7800 homeless in Finland.
А lot of suicides and alcoholics and drug addicts.
3
@John
What homeless? In Finland you are homeless by choice. You get a house from the government and 500e per month. Nobody has to live on the streets if they don't want to.
Mental healthcare is free (one of the leading causes of homelessness in the US is mental health problems) and if you can't find a job, you can go study for free and get money for rent and living expences from the government.
10
This so true. I've been to Finland and have seen what a nation that places high value on social wealth, not just material wealth, can accomplish. My grand parents came from Finland at the end of the nineteenth century, bringing along their concepts of hard work, the common good, and pride in heritage. That attitude still wrings true in many places in the U.S., but is really alive and well in northern Minnesota where I grew.
27
When citizens focus on the common good, this is what is possible. In the US, we lack the mind set to think of the common good.
115
@Joel Stegner The "common good" is nothing more than the collection of individual good that each person chooses for themselves.
The collective wisdom of millions of self interested people making their own choices is what is the collective good.
All else is centralized planning that has been proven not work and creates collective disasters, death and misery.
2
@Joel Stegner
Yes, could you imagine a president today saying, "Ask not what your country can do for you but what you can do for your country"?
29
@Joel Stegner -- YES, that is the root problem: one of personal values that produce an individualistic society. The individual driving history, the business titan, the military hero, the movie star, the sports champion. And the rest of us -- wanting to have the same power and status that comes from such recognition of those individuals.
10
Cultural and racial homogeneity amongst wealth at a rate double that of an already wealthy country produces happiness, shocker!
I believe the conflict that we've invested in in the US has a corresponding need for incredible rebirth, renewal, and creativity that can be found in bright spots throughout this nation in its wildly productive creative industries and research centers.
Take that happiness
14
When is the next Finnair flight out of Boston?
62
@Joseph Roquebecil
Ha! I was thinking the same thing. I went to Finland once, about 25 years ago. Its really hard to comprehend, from thr American POV, the incredible level of social services that they find normal. But, at least in the 90s, they were so racist! Hopefully just from naïveté, lack of opportunity to mix with others, but it was blatant as we disembarked from the ferry from Sweden.
4
Great article. Shows that there are a number of different approaches to creating a decent society. Certainly, we in the U.S. can learn from other models but there is no need to disparage what we've built here. It's also very difficult to make comparisons based on anecdotes between a complex, diverse country like the US and a more homogeneous country like Finland. A profile of Scarsdale might look pretty similar to this profile of Kauniainen.
27
Sounds like brigadoon. Pictures of folks look homogenous
5
Thank you for this article, Patrick-- a reminder that there are many places on the planet where life is both different and better than in the USA. This article demonstrates how any good government should spend its resources: by actually improving the lives of ordinary citizens.
147
@Chip As a former NY'er who's lived in California, and now Minnesota since 1994, I'm very familiar with what can happen as tax revenues rise and fall. In the wake of Proposition 13 & raising my daughters in San Francisco (https://www.californiataxdata.com/pdf/Prop13.pdf), we saw library closures, school class size increases, and a host of other municipal service cuts. Fast-forward to the recent Kansas and Wisconsin "experiments". Tax money shouldn't be squandered but here in Minnesota, we get something from our revenues. I'm tired of the Red party's abject hate for any taxes unless they benefit businesses (who have no mandate to "trickle down").
110
@Jose Pieste
Maybe because we have traveled there, have friends there and know more of what those societies are like. I was in Finland, Sweden and Denmark this last summer and they are not nearly as homogeneous as they used to be. There are
many Turkish people all over Europe and Scandanavia and Finland and people from Africa as well. And maybe some of us have families that are racially, religiously and culturally integrated as well, so we find other countries and life styles interesting.
16