Denmark provides “free” public health.\u00a0 With the highest income taxes in the world, it must be a superb, all inclusive system.\u00a0 Not so.\u00a0 The patient has significant co-payments.\u00a0 Moreover, as in other socialist countries, about a third of the people purchase supplemental insurance to help cover what the “free” government healthcare does not.\u00a0 Is that equality?<\/p>\n
Further, access to healthcare is tightly regulated, with waiting times of more than a year for “elective” surgeries.\u00a0 About five percent of the people solve this problem by purchasing insurance that allows them to “jump waiting lists,” buying the spot on the top of the list.\u00a0 Is that equality?\u00a0<\/p>\n
Denmark also provides free higher education.\u00a0 Again, there are downsides. “Central planners” decide how many people are needed in any given occupation.\u00a0 Students are then placed in the degree program the central planners decide is best for the country. Interestingly, 15% of Danes have bachelor degrees, similar to fellow socialist countries Sweden and Norway; but that is half the 26% with bachelor degrees in the United States.\u00a0 Does this suggest that choice, opportunity, and dreams are more important than a guaranteed education?\u00a0 Is that freedom?<\/p>\n
The realities of this welfare state.\u00a0 In the 1970s 300,000 Danes were on welfare. Now, over 2,000,000 people, 40% of the adult population, are on “government transfer income” (welfare) with an unchanged population of five and a half million people.\u00a0 Another 1,000,000 are below the age of 18 and not working or paying taxes.\u00a0\u00a0 that leaves only 2,500,00 to work and pay taxes.\u00a0 Of these, nearly 1,000,000 work for the government. That leaves only 1,500,000 people out of a country of 5,500,000 people\u00a0 who are not on welfare or working for the government. Is that equality?<\/p>\n
How long can they increase the number of people on welfare and decrease the number of people paying the bills before the bucket is empty?\u00a0 By their own admission they never realized they would provide benefits to so many people for so long.\u00a0 What did they think would happen?<\/p>\n
And how do they pay for this?\u00a0 Their real tax rate, including excise and sales taxes, is over 70%, with 40% of workers paying a marginal rate of 63.33% on any income over $33,000 a year.\u00a0 Their sales tax is 25% and there is a 180% “special tax” on car purchases.\u00a0 The government uses punitive taxes to not only pay for the welfare programs but also to control the people’s spending habits.\u00a0 Is that equality and freedom?<\/p>\n
Are socialist countries operating like America’s old fashioned “company towns;” the only difference being the company is now the government?\u00a0 Have they traded freedom and opportunity for a guaranteed, indentured servitude existence?\u00a0 Is their only real freedom being freed from the burden of making a choice?\u00a0 Is that freedom?<\/p>\n
How happy are the Danes?\u00a0 Danish newspaper columnist, Sebastian Dorset said, “If you didn’t tell me about the survey I wouldn’t believe you…because everybody complains all the time.”\u00a0 A college student was surprised when he studied abroad and saw so many students laughing and joking.\u00a0 According to Per Henrik Hansen of the Mises Institute, “Young people have virtually no chance to improve their lot in life, to take risks, to make it big through innovation and entrepreneurship.”\u00a0 Danes have low expectations and are rarely disappointed.\u00a0 Is that happiness?<\/p>\n
We too can have all that the Danes have.\u00a0 All we have to do is trade opportunity for mediocrity.\u00a0 All we have to do is trade freedom for indentured servitude.\u00a0 All we have to do is trade dreams for “good enough.”\u00a0 All we have to do is trade our self determination for an acceptance of our lot in life.\u00a0 All we have to do is trade those who died for freedom for a handout.<\/p>\n
With all its blemishes, all its inequities, all its unfairness; our democracy is the most wondrous and magnificent dream of mankind.\u00a0 Is it worth fixing?<\/p>\n
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