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Finland way ahead of U.S. in many ways
Honolulu Star Bulletin ^ | 12/12/03 | Nancy Bey Little

Posted on 12/12/2003 10:15:41 AM PST by GrandmaPatriot

The article about Finland in your Dec. 7 Travel section was interesting. We like to think that we are the most advanced country in the world, but that seems to apply only to weapons, and many others (even in "Old Europe") are far ahead of us. Helsinki, a small capital city of 500,000, has an underground metro and light-rail trams. Finland has the most successful economy in the world and provides its citizens with many social benefits: education through graduate school, generous child-care leave, $100-per-month child payments until age 16 and health care. Our radical right-wing would sniff "socialism," but they are way ahead of us. And they are not squandering billions of dollars and human lives by invading other nations.


TOPICS: Constitution/Conservatism; Culture/Society; Government; US: Hawaii
KEYWORDS: aino; finland; toivo
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To: GrandmaPatriot
It would be pretty cool if we had more infantry on skis.


81 posted on 12/12/2003 11:33:09 AM PST by squidly
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To: Conspiracy Guy
They haven't been attacked by terrrorist either, yet.

I think someone bombed a Finnish shopping center a few months back, but IIRC the perp turned out to be just another nutty Finn.

82 posted on 12/12/2003 11:41:53 AM PST by shhrubbery!
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To: finnman69
They may invest something in defense but my point was that since our defense budget is so high there is less money to put into socialized programs.....

83 posted on 12/12/2003 11:43:34 AM PST by misterrob
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To: Semper Paratus
I did the jump in the lake thing from our family's island in Finland. Unfortunately iw as too young to bee piss drunk or have a buxom blonde thrash me.

Holy shrinkage Batman!
84 posted on 12/12/2003 11:49:19 AM PST by finnman69 (cum puella incedit minore medio corpore sub quo manifestus globus, inflammare animos)
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To: GrandmaPatriot
Tax rate? How about suicide rate!

==========

Project to prevent suicide in Finland

The suicide prevention programme carried out by Finland in the 1980s and 90s was the first anywhere to be given nationwide scope. The reason for Finland’s activity in this respect was its suicide mortality rate, long one of the highest in the world. The programme was also a response to the WHO’s call to reverse the upward trend in suicides.

[SNIP]

http://www.stakes.fi/mentalhealth/suicidesu.htm
85 posted on 12/12/2003 11:50:08 AM PST by Jackson Brown
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To: squidly
My grandfather blasted the crap out of some Ruskie tanks in the Russo-Finnish war. He got 5.
86 posted on 12/12/2003 11:50:26 AM PST by finnman69 (cum puella incedit minore medio corpore sub quo manifestus globus, inflammare animos)
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To: GrandmaPatriot
All the lovely Fjørds...
87 posted on 12/12/2003 11:51:48 AM PST by FreedomFarmer (Extreme Cow Racing Champion.)
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To: GrandmaPatriot
And they are not squandering billions of dollars and human lives by invading other nations.

Nope and they aren't contributing a red cent to America for defeating terrorism for them and the rest of the free world thus helping to protect their economy. Besides, they'd be the first to come begging the U.S. if they were every invaded.

88 posted on 12/12/2003 11:53:13 AM PST by 1Old Pro (Gore as Sec'ty of Interior in Dean's administration? Algor needs a job.)
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To: dwilli
They had a heat wave this summer....sweltering upper 80's up in lake country. As of right now, they have no snow which makes the dark winters extra sucky.
89 posted on 12/12/2003 11:53:46 AM PST by finnman69 (cum puella incedit minore medio corpore sub quo manifestus globus, inflammare animos)
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To: GrandmaPatriot
In addition to the many comments already about Finland's homogenous and small population, and their lack of any significant burdens from military spending, I just thought I'd point out that they're heavily dependent on one major employer, Nokia.

The day someone comes up with a patented replacement for the average cell phone is the day you can kiss Finland's economy good-bye. Not that that would ever happen in today's fast-paced World mind you.
90 posted on 12/12/2003 11:53:58 AM PST by 12B
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To: 12B
I'd point out that they're heavily dependent on one major employer, Nokia.

Great tires, or is that tyres?

91 posted on 12/12/2003 11:59:59 AM PST by 1Old Pro (Gore as Sec'ty of Interior in Dean's administration? Algor needs a job.)
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To: 12B
othern than Nokia which has been around a while....I have a pair of Nokia boots from when I was a kid, timber/paper products and ship building are Finland's other major industries.
92 posted on 12/12/2003 12:00:35 PM PST by finnman69 (cum puella incedit minore medio corpore sub quo manifestus globus, inflammare animos)
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To: headsonpikes
One word...Scrabble!

Well, if the government was giving me $700 a month (!) to raise the kids, as Finland's would ... I could hire someone to raise the kids and do the housework, and just play Scrabble all day! I was, after all state spelling champion of Virginia in 1984! (But would I want to kill myself? - depends on how deep the reindeer plotz is.)

93 posted on 12/12/2003 12:21:28 PM PST by Tax-chick (It's hard to see the rainbow through glasses dark as these.)
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To: finnman69
Mining equipment, drills, etc, too.
94 posted on 12/12/2003 12:28:25 PM PST by Eric in the Ozarks
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To: GrandmaPatriot; HardStarboard; Semper Paratus; Kenton; Colosis; BlueLancer

2003 Miss Finland Finalists

The 2003 winner was Anna Stromberg (can you guess which one she is in the above photo?) and she went on to be crowned 2003 Miss Universe.

95 posted on 12/12/2003 12:28:28 PM PST by the_devils_advocate_666
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To: Tax-chick
No mention either of the suicide rate in Finland, which is the highest in the world most years.

In my misspent youth I met a girl from Finland while traveling in Ireland. We talked at length about the widespread disposition of the Finns towards severe depression. The Finnish character, which is highly shared because the population is so homogeneous, and although it is admirable in many ways, is among the most, if not the most, gloomy in all the world.

Nine months of winter will do that to you.

96 posted on 12/12/2003 12:31:16 PM PST by beckett
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To: the_devils_advocate_666
All right now!
97 posted on 12/12/2003 12:31:21 PM PST by finnman69 (cum puella incedit minore medio corpore sub quo manifestus globus, inflammare animos)
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To: beckett
My brother is visiting from England (near Newcastle), and he was complaining about the dark there this time of year ... and Finland is way north of that. Yuck.
98 posted on 12/12/2003 12:34:09 PM PST by Tax-chick (It's hard to see the rainbow through glasses dark as these.)
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To: the_devils_advocate_666



99 posted on 12/12/2003 12:38:09 PM PST by finnman69 (cum puella incedit minore medio corpore sub quo manifestus globus, inflammare animos)
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To: finnman69
Inspires me to ice a bottle of Finlandia.
100 posted on 12/12/2003 12:39:34 PM PST by Semper Paratus
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