Denmark is ranked highest this year for quality of life...

We've been there. Yes, it's nice. But the income tax is the highest in the world. The Value Added Tax (VAT) is 25% - virtually everything you buy gets another 25% added to it. Rental housing is expensive and you have to bring your own kitchen cabinets / appliances.

If you are an average worker, you'll like Denmark. Big social safety net.

If you are an entrepreneur, or seek to grow in your profession with increasing wealth in Denmark, the taxes are burdensome. You would easily do better in the business climate of Singapore or the United States.

Bottom line: IMO it's better to VISIT Denmark than to live there.

If you could live ANYWHERE, where would it be and WHY?

[www.usnews.com]

Denmark, lol. Best quality of life.

But seriously, I don't think most of us mind paying taxes if we think the money is being well spent.

Denmark has free medical care for everyone. Everyone gets free college plus money to live on while attending school. Five weeks paid vacation. Extended paid leave for both parents after the birth of a child.

Meanwhile in the U.S., we have economic insecurity where one event such as a major medical bill. loss of a job, or birth of a child could send us into instant poverty, pitting us against each other as we fight to hoard wealth and improve our own economic security, screw everyone else.

I choose Canada, with aspirations to learn from Denmark.
Yes, I'll pay more taxes so everyone can get health care.

United States. Have yet to see most of the mainland and all of AK and HI. The quality, for me, is the possibility of seeing as much as possible of my homeland and experiencing some of other places.

I just want to live anywhere it's cool (not freezing) year round. The summer heat is brutal. I love winter.

Is Canada going to continue to rely on the USA for defense spending?
The US spends 2.9% of GDP, Canada 1.33% of GDP

Are Canadians going to stop crossing the border for lower priced US goods including fuel?
United States: In USD/gallons: $3.44 per gallon
Canada: In USD/gallons: $4.77 per gallon

Will Canadians stop coming to the US for medical services because the wait time for procedures is much longer in Canada? The U.S. spent 15.3% of GDP on healthcare per year; Canada spent 10.0%. As reported by the Health Council of Canada, a 2010 Commonwealth survey found that 39% of Canadians waited 2 hours or more in the emergency room, versus 31% in the U.S.; 43% waited 4 weeks or more to see a specialist, versus 10% in the U.S. The same survey states that 37% of Canadians say it is difficult to access care after hours (evenings, weekends or holidays) without going to the emergency department compared to over 34% of Americans. Furthermore, 47% of Canadians and 50% of Americans who visited emergency departments over the past two years feel that they could have been treated at their normal place of care if they were able to get an appointment

Asking for a friend...

One thing I know for sure from reading plenty of articles and studies...healthcare contains a lot of fraud, waste, and abuse.

Finally, not EVERYONE gets healthcare in Canada. There are reports that up to 8% of Canadians do not have regular access to healthcare. "Specifically, data from Statistique Canada shows that nearly 2.5 million Canadians (7.9%) reported unmet healthcare needs in 2021, according to Statistique Canada. Additionally, research suggests that over 1 in 5 Canadian adults lack access to primary care."

@prince wrote:

I choose Canada, with aspirations to learn from Denmark.
Yes, I'll pay more taxes so everyone can get health care.

Free? Are taxes free? Hardly free. And not 100% coverage either.

"Denmark has a universal healthcare system that provides free or subsidized healthcare to all residents, primarily funded through taxes. While most primary and secondary healthcare services are free at the point of use, some services like prescription medicines and dental care may have user charges or require voluntary health insurance."

@mystery2me wrote:

Denmark, lol. Best quality of life.

But seriously, I don't think most of us mind paying taxes if we think the money is being well spent.

Denmark has free medical care for everyone. Everyone gets free college plus money to live on while attending school. Five weeks paid vacation. Extended paid leave for both parents after the birth of a child.

Meanwhile in the U.S., we have economic insecurity where one event such as a major medical bill. loss of a job, or birth of a child could send us into instant poverty, pitting us against each other as we fight to hoard wealth and improve our own economic security, screw everyone else.

@maverick1 wrote:

Is Canada going to continue to rely on the USA for defense spending?

[/quote]

Who is trying to attack Canda, lol?

Oh, you are such a naive G7 nation citizen...

@mystery2me wrote:

@maverick1 wrote:

Is Canada going to continue to rely on the USA for defense spending?

Who is trying to attack Canda, lol?[/quote]

I'd pay more just to live in a different country right about now. Imagine that, because I do love this one. I never thought I'd be saying this.

Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 06/23/2025 09:16AM by BarefootBliss.

What's stopping you?

@BarefootBliss wrote:

I'd pay more just to live in a different country right about now. Imagine that, because I do love this one. I never thought I'd be saying this.