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After Forbes  Magazine did a feature on the "world's happiest people," Oprah was so impressed that she actually went to Denmark to try to find why the Danish people are so satisfied with their lives.
However, what you might not know is that Finland and The Netherlands, two other Scandinavian countries, Â finished two and three respectively. The United States failed to crack the top ten.
 In fact,  the five “Nordic†countries — Denmark, Sweden, Norway, Iceland, and Finland — have planted themselves at or near the top of most measures of human happiness for decades and all were all in the top 10 of this poll.
So, just what makes the people of these countries so much happier. Â We know they all pay very high taxes, sometimes up to 65 or 70 per cent of their incomes. Â At the same time, they enjoy huge benefits back from the government.
Though their may be slight variations, all the countries offer:Â
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Excellent universal health care, including care for the elderly through home health, assisted living, independent living or nursing homes.
Social Security to their Senior citizens, handicapped and disabled
Free education from kindergarten through university level, including those who want to pursue doctorates or PH.D's.
Free child care
Unemployment benefits paid up to four years.
Little class distinction--a garbage man makes as much as a banker, so people are free to do what best suits their skills.
Crime almost non-existent--Women leave their infants outside stores in carriages while they shop.
Low unemployment--People have time to re-train and the money to do it if they lose their job.
Little gender disparity with 80 per cent of women working.
Strong and growing economies
Lack of emphasis on religion--in Norway, for example, only 36 per cent call themselves "religious", the lowest of all western nations.Â
According to a 2005 editorial, published in the British Medical Journal and authored by Dr. Tony Delamothe, research done in Mexico, Ghana, Sweden, the U.S. and the U.K. shows that individuals typically get richer during their lifetimes, but not happier.
It is family, social and community networks that bring joy to one's life, according to Delamothe.
Definitely, unemployment affects people's level of happiness as well. Â All these countries have low unemployment, at just 2 per cent most of the time, though the world-wide recession has driven that up as high as 6 per cent in Denmark at the present.Â
So, one has to ask the question. Â Would you be happy in this type of society? Â If not, why not?
https://www.forbes.com/2009/05/05/world-happiest-places-lifestyle-travel-world-happiest.html
https://politics.pagannewswirecollective.com/2011/02/18/socialist-vikings/
