Denmark world's happiest country, Burundi least: new report shows

www.reuters.com...

Denmark overtook Switzerland as the world's happiest place, according to a report on Wednesday that urged nations regardless of wealth to tackle inequality and protect the environment.

The report, prepared by the Sustainable Development Solutions Network (SDSN) and the Earth Institute at Columbia University, showed Syria, Afghanistan and eight sub-Saharan countries as the 10 least happy places on earth to live.

The top 10 this year were Denmark, Switzerland, Iceland, Norway, Finland, Canada, Netherlands, New Zealand, Australia, and Sweden. Denmark was in third place last year, behind Switzerland and Iceland.

I'm gonna have to visit to Europe again and travel to the happiest places on Earth because I was under the impression Disney World was the happiest place on Earth and I've been there three times already and it isn't even on the list! I've been living a lie!

Is anyone shocked to see Syria and Afghanistan as top two on the unhappy list? I will not be visiting the Middle East no matter how many ISIS videos I watch.

Isn't there a US presidential candidate who always use some of the countries in the happy list as models for his vision? Trump, right?

a reply to: Swills

manipulism.com...

Maybe Denmark isn't so happy.

Reuters is clearly pushing left-wing anti-America propoganda, clearly we all know by know:

MERICA IS THE GREATEST COUNTRY IN THE UNIVERSE

Just a joke... no one lose their hats now.

a reply to: JohnFisher

That's a bit of a stretch. If you were using that book as an example of how North Korea is run then you might onto something.

a reply to: Swills

It's funny that countries like Denmark, Switzerland and Sweden are the "happiest" to live are also very socialist AND have embraced Agenda 21.

Both of those things are pretty scary if you're to believe the vocal majority on ATS....

I went to Denmark back in 1997 for a weekend.

If they were happy, the message wasn't getting through to their faces; maybe things have changed over the years.

They were like the weather, cold.

a reply to: Swills

Yeah, but, but, America is supposed to be "greatest country in the world!" We need to stop pounding our chests and start looking at what other countries are doing to help give our citizens a better quality of life. These are some pretty sad world rankings...

- The U.S. ranks 44th in health care efficiency
- The U.S. ranks 14th in education
- The U.S. ranks 2nd in ignorance
- The U.S. ranks 101st in peace
- The U.S. ranks 46th in freedom of the press
- The U.S. ranks 19th in perceived honesty
- The U.S. ranks 17th in happiness

For more sad U.S. Rankings, check out this site

a reply to: Chadwickus

I've heard of agenda 21 and looked into it a little bit years ago but it didn't stick with me so I don't recall what it's all about. I do recall the UN being the authority world wide or something. Either way, I'm not even gonna bother to look it up that's much I care about.

Alex Jones preaches it and I was cool with that, Jones and all, but as soon as Glenn Beck started to preach it I knew it was probably bullspit.

I'm originally from Denmark and I can assure you that it's not as much "happy" as it is just plain crackers.

a reply to: sooth

How long did you live there and where ya living now?

a reply to: Swills

I'm the eighth most happiest.

Yay.

Man, a country where everybody pays taxes, sounds too good to be true.

a reply to: Swills

Here's a pretty good read that may explain a bit about this.
Garry Kasparov: Hey, Bernie, Don’t Lecture Me About Socialism. I Lived Through It.

The USSR collapsed because it couldn’t compete over time, despite its massive resources and devout ideology. The Soviets put a man in space before America but couldn’t keep up the pace against an innovating, free-market competitor. My Facebook post went around the world on technology created in America. The networks, the satellites, the software, nearly every ingredient in every mobile device and desktop computer, was invented in the USA. It is not a coincidence that the most capitalist country in the world created all these things. Innovation requires freedom of thought, freedom of capital, and people who believe in changing the world.

Yes, the free market can be cruel and it is by definition unequal. It has winners and losers. It also sparks the spirit of creativity that humanity desperately needs to flourish in our ever-increasing billions. Failure is an essential part of innovation and the free market. Of every 10 new companies, perhaps nine will fail in brutal Darwinian competition. A centrally-planned economy cannot imitate this engine of creative destruction because you cannot plan for failure. You cannot predestine which two college dropouts in a garage will produce the next Apple.

A popular rebuttal is to invoke the socialist leanings of several European countries with high living standards, especially in Scandinavia. Why can’t America be more like happy Denmark, with its high taxes and giant public sector, or at least more like France? Even the more pro-free-market United Kingdom has national health care, after all. First off, comparing relatively small, homogeneous populations to the churning, ocean-spanning American giant is rarely useful. And even the most socialist of the European countries only became wealthy enough to embrace redistribution after free-market success made them rich. Still, why cannot America follow this path if that is what the people want? What is the problem if American voters are willing to accept higher taxes in exchange for greater security in the embrace of the government?

The answer takes us back to all those inventions America has produced decade after decade. As long as Europe had America taking risks, investing ambitiously, attracting the world’s dreamers and entrepreneurs, and yes, being unequal, it could benefit from the results without making the same sacrifices. Add to that the incalculable windfall of not having to spend on national defense thanks to America’s massive investment in a global security umbrella. America doesn’t have the same luxury of coasting on the ambition and sacrifice of another country.

Basically the Scandinavian countries are able to be happy by riding on America's coattails. Free market capitalism got them wealthy enough to institute their progressive policies, and America is what allows them to continue to prosper. We keep them safe, so they don't have to spend much on their own defense. America doesn't have that luxury.

originally posted by: Swills
a reply to: JohnFisher

That's a bit of a stretch. If you were using that book as an example of how North Korea is run then you might onto something.

Eh, it was written about Denmark by Denmarkian. Did you read the book?

I love Denmark. If I was going to live outside the US that is where I would go. And they have those tasty hot dogs. Mmmmmm Danish hot dogs.

I'm from Denmark, i'm satisfied with my country and it's people, they may not run around and smile all the time, but they are satisfied like i am.

I wouldn't call it happy, just satisfied.

It's easy to live and be well in Denmark, in all social layers.

Americans...its like eating onions or something.

As a little kid you HATED onions. You'd scream and carry on about your food having icky onions in it.

Now, as an adult? Onions are good! Fried onions especially! Why would you hate onions?! Ah...you were young and refused to try something, and decided you didn't like it before you even got a chance to see what it was like.

That's how I see it.

I used to be VERY anti-smart phone. Then I got one when my contract ran out and they didn't have any other options. A month later? I'd probably punch you if you tried to take it away.

Its the same thing. Americans hate something now that they'll no doubt end up enjoying later...its like kids with vegetables.