What do you know, the article was a research (!) about happiness.
Turns out that when asked about their own happiness, Danes are very happy. Happier than the rest of Europe.
"Many in Denmark put this regularly-surveyed contentedness down to a dynamic economy and a pleasant work-life balance, with people leaving the office on time, jumping on effective public transport and heading off to pick up their delightful children from a shiny, well-run kindergarten. "
Sounds like a Hollywood movie, doesn't it? I am reminded of The Truman Show, don't ask me why.
Sounds like a Hollywood movie, doesn't it? I am reminded of The Truman Show, don't ask me why.
Work vs Family
"Denmark is very consumer-oriented and very family-oriented. People are sure to leave work at 4.30pm. They work their eight hours and go home. Pressure to work overtime doesn't exist."
This is just a lie. People are not sure to leave work at 4:30pm. The next piece of the article says Danes work 37 hours. That is not true. 37 hours is considered full time. There are plenty of people working 40+ or even 50+ hours.
Oh yeah, that's very family oriented.
Oh yeah, that's very family oriented.
And yes, pressure to work overtime DOES exist.
I know examples of work places where overtime doesn't officially exist, which means there is no pay for overtime, duh, but overtime does exist. People are stuck in their office till they get the work done. As a matter of fact, I know of people who go to their office on saturdays and sundays from time to time, because of workload!
I know examples of work places where overtime doesn't officially exist, which means there is no pay for overtime, duh, but overtime does exist. People are stuck in their office till they get the work done. As a matter of fact, I know of people who go to their office on saturdays and sundays from time to time, because of workload!
I'm sure their children appreciate that.
Uemployment
"We have high taxes but we have generous unemployment benefits, a lot of life-long learning. We feel secure and we feel that we have opportunities.
"We have a lot of faith in government as an institution. The authorities are normally competent, uncorrupt and approachable."
"We have a lot of faith in government as an institution. The authorities are normally competent, uncorrupt and approachable."
Unemployment is lower than other places in Europe, but the unemployment benefits are not easy to get.
Once again I know of examples... People who can't work because they lack the energy, have some kinds of medical problems or are just stressed out, and yet the municipality wants to force them into job activation (which are usually low-life jobs that are underpaid) and if they don't do it, their cash assistance is taken away.
Sure, that will help.
Need I say, that all forms of economic assistance is based on household income and household debt is not considered.
Once again I know of examples... People who can't work because they lack the energy, have some kinds of medical problems or are just stressed out, and yet the municipality wants to force them into job activation (which are usually low-life jobs that are underpaid) and if they don't do it, their cash assistance is taken away.
Sure, that will help.
Need I say, that all forms of economic assistance is based on household income and household debt is not considered.
Medical help
As for feeling secure. I know I don't. The authorities are not always competent, the rate of medical malpractice has been as high as 29%, last year.(For more info about that, please read this blogpost: link.)
Education
On a good note, we do have lots of educational opportunities. Anyone (with the right grades) can go to university/college, they only have to pay for their own books and any study trips.
As a matter of fact anyone has a right to 5 years cash assistance, education grant, while studying.
Although the grant is low and usually not enough to pay for a decent living.
As a matter of fact anyone has a right to 5 years cash assistance, education grant, while studying.
Although the grant is low and usually not enough to pay for a decent living.
Anyway...
Low Expectations
"But a study by the University of Southern Denmark earlier this year found success in happiness surveys might be down to low expectations."
"But a study by the University of Southern Denmark earlier this year found success in happiness surveys might be down to low expectations."
It isn't fair to say that Danes generally have low expectations, sure, Danes are realistic.
Compared to Italy and Spain where people expect too much and get dissapointed, Danes should supposedly expect too little and be pleasantly surprised.
Or as the article more negatively puts it:
"Year after year we're just happy that things didn't go as badly as we'd feared."
Or as the article more negatively puts it:
"Year after year we're just happy that things didn't go as badly as we'd feared."
This explantion ruins the whole idea that Danes are a happy people, doesn't it?
Walking around expecting too little or fearing the worst doesn't really make people...happy.
Walking around expecting too little or fearing the worst doesn't really make people...happy.
I don't believe that Danes expect too little, as a matter of fact, I'd claim that Danes are generally stuck up and proud.
So are the Danes really happy?
There are just around 6 million people in the country and in 2005 alone, 350,000 people received the sunshine drug, the happy pill! Now that numbers doesn't count people who are depressed but doesn't get help, or those that are so depressed that they get anti-depressants (which are stronger meds than the happy pill) or those that successfully or not tries to commit suicide, or those that end up in mental hospitals...
Happy? No. Not more than others.
Content? Satisfied? No. Not more than others.
Content? Satisfied? No. Not more than others.
We do have the good life, but the good life doesn't make people happy.
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BBC Article: http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/6563639.stm?lsm
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