We hear an awful lot about certain European countries that are supposed to be so much better than the United States because of their large public sectors, and that if we Americans weren't such backward stupidheads, we could enjoy the fruits of those policies ourselves.
One of those countries, as you surely know, is Denmark, so when I came across the following post from a French-language X account about features of Denmark that its cheerleaders don't usually tell you about, I thought I'd share it with you, in translation. The comparisons to France are included because the author is French.
So here's the Denmark they kept from you:
- Public spending 10 percentage points lower than in France
- Budget surpluses and public debt at 29% of GDP
- Dismissal by a simple letter from the boss. Unemployment rate of 3%
- No statutory minimum wage
- Around 48% of the population has private health insurance
- Very restrictive immigration policy: temporary protection by default, difficult family reunification, requirement for genuine integration
- Permanent residency only after 8 years + language + proof of steady employment
- “Paradigm shift” on asylum: temporary protection by default, priority goal of returning to their home country rather than permanent integration
- Standard employment contracts for the vast majority of public-sector employees
- One of the highest labor force participation rates in the world
- Unemployment benefits conditional on very active job-seeking: at least two applications per week, obligation to accept jobs outside one's field, risk of losing benefits if you cannot prove your availability
- Right to strike banned for some civil servants
- Among the lowest corporate tax rates in Europe
- No wealth tax
- Property protection and justice system among the best in the world
- Starting a business in one day, entirely online
- Ranked 7th on the economic freedom index, compared with 65th for France
- Ranked 4th among OECD countries where it is easiest to do business; France is second to last
I'd sure be happy if the United States adopted these ideas!
Another thing we hear from these kinds of people is that Americans are stupid and backward because they have to pay so much for health care, while they have state-run systems that are "free."
A couple of weeks ago I wrote to you about what a young man starting out is paying in taxes in London, as compared to Texas. The European sophisticates brushed off the comparison: why, American health care is so much more expensive, they said, so that makes up for the tax difference.
That's not actually true for the young man who would have been given the job we were talking about. But another thing: we Americans have options, and I for one am perfectly at peace with what my family pays for health care.
As you know, this week I was able to get Andy Schoonover, CEO of CrowdHealth, for you guys for a live Q&A.
The Woods household has been saving a bundle with CrowdHealth without having to sacrifice anything in terms of care.
We had an enormous bill for the pregnancy that gave us nearly 11-month-old Henry Woods, and it was no problem for CrowdHealth.
I strongly recommend watching the recording: there are some great questions, and you'll be very impressed with Andy and the company.
CrowdHealth is one of these workarounds in American life that I use myself and wholly endorse. Use enough of my workarounds and American life becomes almost normal!
P.S. If you're ready to jump on board even without the Q&A, use code TOM (not WOODS this time) at the link for a discount on your first three months, plus my free quick-start guide:https://www.JoinCrowdHealth.com
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