Paul Krugman- Something Not Rotten in Denmark

[n2doc]

No doubt surprising many of the people watching the Democratic presidential debate, Bernie Sanders cited Denmark as a role model for how to help working people. Hillary Clinton demurred slightly, declaring that “we are not Denmark,” but agreed that Denmark is an inspiring example.

Such an exchange would have been inconceivable among Republicans, who don’t seem able to talk about European welfare states without adding the word “collapsing.” Basically, on Planet G.O.P. all of Europe is just a bigger version of Greece. But how great are the Danes, really?

The answer is that the Danes get a lot of things right, and in so doing refute just about everything U.S. conservatives say about economics. And we can also learn a lot from the things Denmark has gotten wrong.

Denmark maintains a welfare state — a set of government programs designed to provide economic security — that is beyond the wildest dreams of American liberals. Denmark provides universal health care; college education is free, and students receive a stipend; day care is heavily subsidized. Overall, working-age families receive more than three times as much aid, as a share of G.D.P., as their U.S. counterparts.

more

http://www.nytimes.com/2015/10/19/opinion/something-not-rotten-in-denmark.html?action=click&pgtype=Homepage&module=opinion-c-col-left-region®ion=opinion-c-col-left-region&WT.nav=opinion-c-col-left-region&_r=1

[Faux pas]

1. Kickin'

[homegirl]

13. Americans, if you want

what Denmark, Scandinavia and most of Western Europeans have-GET OFF YOUR BUTT AND VOTE.
Register young people and shut ins, all citizens must register and vote!

I lived in Sweden for many years. 94% of the eligible voters, VOTED! The campaign season was very short, the media makes a huge production of our campaign season to boost profits,and I suspect to make us bored with the process.

VOTE!VOTE!VOTE!

[n2doc]

18. It is worse than that

I feel the whole process in the US is geared towards making the majority of voters fearful and apathetic. "Both sides are terrible" is the working order. Basically, 'why bother, they are all the same, all candidates are just after your money/guns/whatever' is the meme that is pushed by all the attack ads and the long campaign season. No wonder our participation rates are so low.

[homegirl]

26. Time for

Public Financing of Campaings and term limits.

[SandersDem]

2. K&R Bigtime

[tex-wyo-dem]

3. As someone who has visited Denmark and Finland many times for work...

I can vouch for what Krugman is saying.

In speaking with many Danes and Finns, they are extremely proud of the system they helped build. People are also very politically involved and their government and news are some of the most transparent in the world. People are happy, healthy, productive and have the opportunity to spend more time with their families (real family values).

As has been pointed out by many pundits (and Hillary), we are not Denmark. True, we are a larger country and have a more diverse population, but this shouldn't really matter that much and we should study and take lessons from other countries that do things right. The basic social tenant of compassion and support vs. competition and survival of the fittest is what needs to change.

I do wish Bernie would emphasize more that the basic purpose of Democratic Socialism is an investment in the people (health care, education, family support, retirement, etc., etc., etc.), which will pay back many many fold over time.

[Babel_17]

4. I was reading his blog earlier

He does chide them for their weak stimulus after the global collapse, but as he notes, that's a different issue. I see such societies as being in a state of "we're all in this together". Here in the USA, if you have the money, you can create your own reality.

[tex-wyo-dem]

8. It's basically what the Pope and Jesus and every other great spiritual leader has ever said...

"we're all in this together", compassion and support towards your fellow human.

Here is the USA...compete and win, or suffer.

[Wounded Bear]

5. Always happy to K&R a Krugman piece...

Excellent read, as usual.

[libdem4life]

6. And since they have no intention of being World Policemen, their citizens stay home and live better.

HRC is right...We are not Denmark. Would that we were.

[abelenkpe]

7. K&R

[valerief]

9. Hey, the U.S. is a welfare state, too. A welfare state for the .01%. nt

[SoapBox]

10. Hill:...we are not Denmark!

My response is: Maybe we should be!

[Doctor_J]

19. triangulating as usual

[Uncle Joe]

11. That was a great read.

Thanks for the thread, n2doc.

[JDPriestly]

12. And Denmark even gives new mothers (maybe even fathers) paid family leave.

In fact, new American mothers join mothers in only three other countries to care for their newborns without paid family leave.

In which other countries is there no family leave for moms of newborns?

Lesotho, Swaziland and Papua New Guinea.

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2013/02/04/maternity-leave-paid-parental-leave-_n_2617284.html

Two-thirds of American college students graduate with college debt, and that debt now tops $1.2 trillion. By every indication, college is now more expensive than it has ever been, out of reach of not only poor Americans, but even middle class ones. While various reforms made in the past few years may have helped slow the growth of college costs, they continue to outpace Americans’ ability to pay.

Although this is happening in the world’s richest country, there are many places abroad where college is virtually free. The Washington Post’s Rick Noack points out seven places where Americans can study for free or at very low cost – and in English! Students just have to be willing to leave the country:
. . . .

http://www.salon.com/2014/11/02/7_countries_where_college_is_free_partner/

The countries that charge little or no tuition for college are Brazil, Germany, Finland, France, Norway, Slovenia and Sweden. The article points out that college in Mexico, in spite of its expensive drug war, is nearly free.

And what does our tax money pay for? Lots and lots of military gear including gear for our police forces, lots of private prisons, lots of military bases in foreign countries, the war on marijuana, jailing drunks and drug users, making oafs like Donald Trump very, very rich and powerful.

It's a question of values folks.

It's a question of values.

[BeanMusical]

16. +1

[pansypoo53219]

14. danis people are a HAPPY people. + smart. i have an older epal who gets amazing health care.

when he talks about nurse visits to his home. jeez, they even made his apartment so he could use a walker & make sure he had everything set up. he has pneumonia & he has asthma, so he was in several place over a month & he is not worried about BILLS. when he visited NYC & needed to stay in the hospital a few days, they PAID for his LOST VACATION TIME. he had to make calls from our house about it & THEY PAID FOR THE PHONE BILLS! its clean & the 2 times i was there i did not hear a siren. EVER.

[WillyT]

15. HUGE K & R !!! - THANK YOU !!!

[BeanMusical]

17. Great post! Kick and R.

[senz]

20. Not just Scandanavia -- it includes Northern Europe, Canada, & even Australia

to varying degrees.

Democratic Socialism has proven useful for all advanced western democracies -- except us. We have Social Security and Medicare, two humble, workable programs that are under constant, unrelenting attack from the crazed, propagandized underbelly of our society.

Power of propaganda. Do not underestimate it.

[appalachiablue]

23. Bernie must talk more of dem. soc. during FDR and LBJ in the US, then Canada,

Australia and No. Europe as you say. The Nordic references are frequent and concerning to some. Mention of FDR's Four Freedoms plan and speech in Jan. 1941 would be appropriate as well. That's where Hillary held her Campaign Kickoff in New York City, Four Freedoms Plaza.

Our social programs are under constant assault absolutely, but like many I think focusing some more on the US rather than so much about Scandi would relate to more people. Only 3% of Americans hold a US Passport, something I didn't realize until today. And we are two oceans away from major continents and have a diminished US educational system.

I've been to Europe. incl. Germany a good deal but not to the Nordic countries yet. My brother and sister had friends in Sweden and loved it and Demark, the Little County. The quality of life and standards in many western democracies are quite high, compared to us no doubt about it.

[Bernin4U]

21. But when you'r a temporarily embarrassed millionaire...

Then none of this applies to you. You'll be winning the lottery, or founding the next great internet startup, or otherwise striking it rich, long before the likes of Bernie could possibly become president.

Who needs economic justice (ie, "handouts&quot , when joining the 1% is just around the corner?

[Spitfire of ATJ]

22. I would love to have Krugman as Treasury Secretary....

Imagine seeing his name on our currency.

Always thought it was funny Bush appointed a guy named "Snow".

http://kullskingdom.org/galleries/d/2023-1/Dubya+Got+Coke.jpg

[Enthusiast]

24. Kicked and recommended!

I like it!

[rhett o rick]

25. k & r. Thanks for posting. nm

[lonestarnot]

27. K & R!