Free Republic
Browse · Search
News/Activism
Topics · Post Article

Skip to comments.

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
Navigation: use the links below to view more comments.
first previous 1-20 ... 41-6061-8081-100101-107 next last
To: Kenton
Are you saying that, in the reindeer game, it's much better to be ahead than behind?
61 posted on 12/12/2003 11:00:41 AM PST by Mr. Lucky
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 16 | View Replies]

To: HarleyD
I think it is hard to figure the actual amounts from charts
You did on heckova good job breaking them down though.
62 posted on 12/12/2003 11:02:55 AM PST by international american
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 57 | View Replies]

To: GrandmaPatriot
I'm guessing they are dependent on the rest of the world for most of their food, hard goods and other economic goods. What is their major agricultural product and how much food do they import?

63 posted on 12/12/2003 11:03:23 AM PST by lawdude (Liberalism: A failure every time it is tried!)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: GrandmaPatriot
Just to balance out the slew of Finland-"bashing" that will grace this thread: They kicked the Russian Bear in the teeth rather nicely! Good on 'em for that!

Now go move there, madam author!

Odd that liberals use the fact that America isn't number one in EVERY minute statistical category (without pausing to note important facors like taxes, suicide rates, lack of diversity, etc) to somehow "prove" that America isn't that great. "Yeah, just because we're in the top 5 in 95% of the categories with any meaning, that doesn't mean we should feel good about ourselves!" Dolts.

64 posted on 12/12/2003 11:05:29 AM PST by Teacher317
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: Conspiracy Guy
They are also having a dearth of babies so they are on the way to demographic extinction.

They also do not let millions of 3rd-worlders into their nation each year, who become huge consumers of tax benefits.

Worst of all -- their favorite sport is soccer. Any country which values soccer more than baseball is a dry cultural wasteland to me. {Flame-retardant suit on}

65 posted on 12/12/2003 11:11:19 AM PST by tom h
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 5 | View Replies]

To: GrandmaPatriot
The Finns faced down the Soviet Bear. They're O.K. in my book.
66 posted on 12/12/2003 11:14:57 AM PST by Polybius
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: tom h
Ditto on all points.
67 posted on 12/12/2003 11:18:16 AM PST by Conspiracy Guy (If you don't have hope, you don't have squat. The hopeless have already lost.)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 65 | View Replies]

To: Mr. Lucky
Are you saying that, in the reindeer game, it's much better to be ahead than behind?

Damn, ya threw me a curve on that one... I suppose it depends whether or not you're talking about the first day of reindeer season, or walking behind a reindeer with runny bowels... [Uck. I can't believe I said that]

68 posted on 12/12/2003 11:19:13 AM PST by Kenton (This space for rent)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 61 | View Replies]

To: Tax-chick
RE: 'suicide rate'

One word...Scrabble!
69 posted on 12/12/2003 11:19:19 AM PST by headsonpikes (Spirit of '76 bttt!)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 8 | View Replies]

To: tom h
And when you walk down the sidewalks, "You got Finns to the left, Finns to the right. And you're the only bait in town". At least that's what Jimmy Buffett said.
70 posted on 12/12/2003 11:19:46 AM PST by Conspiracy Guy (If you don't have hope, you don't have squat. The hopeless have already lost.)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 65 | View Replies]

To: beckett
Exactly...and from what I understand, Finland has rather strict immigration controls...unlike our wide open borders that allow a flood if illegal immigration. Hell, we have more illegal aliens in this country, than Finland has citizens (1,190,785), with a land mass that is slightly smaller than Montana. And where we are one of the most...if not the most, diverse country in the world, Finland, like its Nordic brothers, is one of the most homogenious societies on the planet...93% Fins with 6% being Swedes. It's a little easier to run a government of less than 2 million similar citizens than it is to run one with over 280 million diverse people. Talk to me in a decade and let me know how Finland's doing after their participation in the EU. That prosperity that Finland supposedly enjoys is going to be spread pretty thin between them and their "United States."
71 posted on 12/12/2003 11:23:06 AM PST by cwb
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 31 | View Replies]

To: GrandmaPatriot
The U.S. has the highest standard of living, period.
Standard of living defined as:Case Closed. End of Discussion.
72 posted on 12/12/2003 11:23:42 AM PST by chudogg (www.chudogg.blogspot.com)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: Conspiracy Guy
I'll bet Jimmy Buffett didn't drink any Margaritas over there.....probably 12 bucks a throw!
73 posted on 12/12/2003 11:24:23 AM PST by international american
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 70 | View Replies]

To: GrandmaPatriot
Let's be clear...Finland is way ahead of America in SOCIALISTIC culture and economy, a dubious category to lead in. We Americans value INDIVIDUAL FREEDOM, a concept the socialistic Euro-weenies can't possibly understand.
74 posted on 12/12/2003 11:25:20 AM PST by exmarine ( sic semper tyrannis)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: chudogg
Luxemborg? Ya learn sumpthin every day.
75 posted on 12/12/2003 11:25:34 AM PST by international american
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 72 | View Replies]

To: GrandmaPatriot
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.

Because the taxes leave them too poor to pay???

76 posted on 12/12/2003 11:30:12 AM PST by <1/1,000,000th%
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: cwboelter
Sorry...that should by 5,190,785.
77 posted on 12/12/2003 11:31:11 AM PST by cwb
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 71 | View Replies]

To: international american
At least.
78 posted on 12/12/2003 11:31:24 AM PST by Conspiracy Guy (If you don't have hope, you don't have squat. The hopeless have already lost.)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 73 | View Replies]

To: Polybius
That was my first thought as well. IIRC, they have the number one sniper (# of confirmed kills).
79 posted on 12/12/2003 11:31:48 AM PST by MattinNJ (If someone says happy holidays to me, I say Merry Christmas to them.)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 66 | View Replies]

To: GrandmaPatriot
All Hail, Socialism!
80 posted on 12/12/2003 11:33:07 AM PST by SaveTheChief
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]


Navigation: use the links below to view more comments.
first previous 1-20 ... 41-6061-8081-100101-107 next last

Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.

Free Republic
Browse · Search
News/Activism
Topics · Post Article

FreeRepublic, LLC, PO BOX 9771, FRESNO, CA 93794
FreeRepublic.com is powered by software copyright 2000-2008 John Robinson