Comments on: Not Everything is Rotten in the State of Denmark

By: Meredith

Meredith — Thu, 27 Jan 2011 12:14:36 +0000

My 2 cents are quite belated, but FWIW:
I’m an American living in Denmark for the past 7 years. I remember when this article was published, and at first I laughed, but after some reflection I determined that this is basically true. And I believe it is because Danes, in general, place importance on a different set of values than Americans do, in general. Family comes first – plain and simple. Everything else is after: friends (a very close 2nd), work (right on the heels of friends). Material possessions come after that. Granted, due to the social welfare system in place here, Danes are afforded the luxury (thru this American’s eyes) of focusing on the intangibles.
1) 3 months’ severance by law if you lose your job,
2) 1 year maternity leave guaranteed and you won’t lose your employment status,
3) free medical care and education through university paid for by the state
Those are just a few of the benefits off the top of my head.

If Americans didn’t have to worry about the financial strain from those necessary services I just listed, imagine what the mindset of the average American could be affected?

Yes, it irks me when I look at my paycheck each month to see 55% of it go to taxes, but as a 1st time mom (20 months ago), it gives me great comfort when I remember the 10 months maternity leave I had, the 6 weeks of vacation a year I can take (and manage to take), without having to work the 50-70 hours per week I used to when living in the US.

Side note: I still work more than most of my Danish friends, but it rarely is more than 50 hours per week. By law, we’re not required to work more than 40. But let me say one thing, I’ve never worked more intensely and focused on the job than I do here.

Final thought: What I value has changed over the last 7 years. I value the “who”s not the “what”s. Stuff can be replaced. People, moments and experiences cannot.

My 2 cents. Thanks for listening

By: Mai-Britt from Denmark

Mai-Britt from Denmark — Sun, 11 Apr 2010 23:29:33 +0000

Hi Dr Phil
I know that it has been a while since you posted this, but I haven’t seen it before. I acctually live in Denmark and perhaps is able to give you an insiders view of our great country. I’m a 21 year old girl from Jutland (the island connected to Germany).
Even though Denmark is a small country we still have a lot to offer. The Danes IS a happy people, but we still struggle with the same problems as for example Americans. I watch the Dr Phil Show everyday and I can see myself in some of the stories. In Denmark we have a health care system, which perhaps is at least some of the explenation why Danes are so happy. When I grew up my parents paid around 42% in taxes of their paycheck. The money makes sure that everybody gets what they need. I didn’t pay for my education. Right now I’m studying at a university and it is all paid for by every taxpayer in the country. In Denmark we see it as every persons right to get an education – no matter, what background he or she might have.
Every month I recive a paycheck from the government. Directly translated it is called: “The States Educational Support”. I get around 1000 dollars, so I can pay for my appartment, food and other stuff I need. We see an education as a job. I study (work) and then of course get paid.
If I get injured I can go to the hospital without thinking about how I’m going to afford it, because it is all covered through taxes.
My theory is that a happy people also is a people with little worries. I do not worry about my future, because I know that whatever might happen, then I will always have the government there to help me. That might be the great difference between Denmark and America.
By the way I have read some of the comments to this thread and I just want to tell you that Danes live in houses just like Americans. I have been to America and we are a lot alike

By: vince

vince — Fri, 02 Oct 2009 19:57:00 +0000

Rita Taylor i beleive General motors killed the electric car, they even have a motor that runs on water but they bought the copy rights and that motor years ago to be sure it never hits the streets in america, so i was told, and for sume strange reason i do beleive it lol, maybe im just gullable who knows.

By: vince

vince — Fri, 02 Oct 2009 19:28:56 +0000

its hard to understand this mess our country is in when i hear on the news all the stupid spending the congress passed with flying colors doc, and they even voted themselves in a pay raise, seems to me they have not earned the money they were already making, maybe they should take a huge pay cut and only then stand and pat each other on the back, i would love to plant my foot where the sun dont shine on a few in congress, what are they thinking?.

By: Rita Taylor

Rita Taylor — Sun, 27 Sep 2009 00:48:11 +0000

The post have all been very interesting and being a Texan I just can’t keep my opinion to myself.
We have the technology to build electric cars. Try to find the movie’Who killed the electric car” It was in American for a year leased out and at the end of the year took out and crushed. People wanted to buy them but they crushed them. Jay Leno has one minus the motor. I am from a rural area and was born in 1943 to a dairy Bo( a man who milks cows for a living for someone else). This life set me forth on growing food, living within my means and paying myself first. My goal was to save enough to live a year if I became unemployed. I did that my buying my needs not wants. Plus recycling,try thrift stores they are great.
One more thing to say about our corporate giants and energy. Our electric company sent me a letter about putting a wind generator on my acre. I called them….they wanted to put it on my land and me pay them an extra $50 a month plus I would not receive any breaks in my energy bill. Greed by friend that is what runs the nation and many parts of the world. I share my gifts and play blessings to me forward without thought to who you are , what you have or what I’ll get out of it. I was the only one attend college and get my degrees . I feel blessed by what I learned on the farm, in college and through living .

By: Rose Johnston

Rose Johnston — Wed, 23 Sep 2009 18:26:50 +0000

Linda RH

I have been reading your messages. And find them to be the most realistic and truthful yet. I totally agree with all you have said.

Cheers

Rose

By: road warrior

road warrior — Wed, 23 Sep 2009 02:51:37 +0000

Ok, I think we get it but we just want to haul more stuff. I cannot imagine life without my truck and it’s hauling capacity. Since I volunteer for my sons’ Boy Scout troop, it comes in handy to haul all their gear. We can load up our boat, bikes, camping gear, kayaks, etc. and head off into the wide open spaces. Why would I want to give that up? My friends recently attempted to drive to Disney for a family vacation with their 3 kids. The Prius didn’t have enough room for them all so they ended up driving 2 vehicles (so much for the fuel savings).

If fuel prices were lower in Europe, it is likely that more people would be driving larger vehicles. From what friends tell me, they can barely fit a child/infant car seat in those mini vehicles. I feel sorry for them when they can’t even load up the family, friends, dog, gear, etc. and hit the road for a great vacation (all in one vehicle).

Maybe that’s why they call it the GREAT “AMERICAN” road trip! God Bless the USA!

By: TP

TP — Wed, 23 Sep 2009 00:40:22 +0000

I agree. I went to Paris on vacation and didn’t want to come back home to New York City. I couldn’t figure out why. I think you hit the nail on the head. It seems like the French appreciate life and it wasn’t as much of a rat race. But I have no idea how they stay so slim with all the great food.

By: metak8

metak8 — Mon, 21 Sep 2009 20:13:18 +0000

Watch ‘Who Killed the Electric Car?” to learn more about why the US auto market is still dominated by inefficient gas-fueled vehicles. Recent private sector bailouts for financial services and domestic auto manufacturers confirm what the oil companies have known and enjoyed for decades: US political leaders prop up publicly-held, for-profit companies so Americans can sustain their oil and credit addictions because it’s good for our economy. If/when there is disruption in our oil supply chains, all prices will rise and Wal*Mart will be the next bailout beneficiary. After all, how could our goverment refuse to prop up the US’ largest private sector employer??

By: LadyDeb

LadyDeb — Mon, 21 Sep 2009 14:33:08 +0000

In my experience we Americans are more concerned with impressing our family, friends, and neighbors than we are with caring for our planet, our health, or our children’s futures.

I was born and raised in a very small and very poor community in Kentucky, but everyone “that was someone” wore name brands and drove new gas guzzling big cars or SUV’s. They thought they “had it made” when they bought a new mobile home and parked a new SUV in the driveway. (Sorry, but some stereotypes are true) At school the kids were very “label conscious”, and those that didn’t buy the label’s were treated as outcast’s. My parents were somewhat politically prominent, and just as guilty as the rest of the parents, meaning we had all the label’s and new cars and boats too, but even as a young child I remember thinking how silly and shallow it all seemed. Very few people seemed to give any thought to savings, and I don’t recall college funds ever being discussed, the only things I remember being discussed was what this one or that one had or didn’t have, or who did what with whom.

I do see a slight shift in the way some people are living, I worry it’s only because it’s currently a popular fad, (again only doing that which impresses), but I hope the true concept will take root in some and together we can make a difference.
We all need to take stock of what is really important in our lives, what kind of legacy do we want to leave our children? One of shallow meaningless excesses or one of responsible caring stewardship of this great planet EARTH.
Remember we only have one life, but we also only have one Earth!