Daff wrote:
"Santa, how much did you pay for your degree?...or the last time you went to the doctor? "
Daff I've worked while studying. As it turns out, i've paid more in taxes than I've gotten off the state. Add to that the taxes my parents have paid - money they could have placed in a fund used to finance the educations of their children.
We pay 75% in taxes at least (including sales tax and various fees). How much of it does a young Danish man with no health problem, no car, no kids, affordable apartment get back in the form of services? A few percent.
You do not find it odd that it doesn't make financial sense to go OFF welfare and into a job if you're married and have a kid? Or go off welfare and onto SU (student grants) because then you have less of a disposable income (of which more than half with be loans).
FWIW, I think that tax paid higher education and medical care is a good thing. Police is necessary too. Motorists should pay for road building; non motorists shouldn't. We should have a force to defend our nation. People should be given a second chance if they are unlucky. But it must not pay off to be irresponsible. It must pay off to work hard and get a higher education. Not very true in Dk today.
Daff, it's no accident that Americans have more purchasing power than Danes. It's not an accident that their economy has been (and still is) stronger than the Danish one.
Education here ain't free. Neither is medical care. We pay through our bloody noses for it through taxes. In a socialistic system, the irresponsible are rewarded (like the druggie unemployed neighbor. He is eligible for welfare and is getting more than I would. I am not eligible because i saved money for a rainy day. Social worker did some calculationas and judged that it should last me two months. She forgot to factor in over half of my bills though. Tough for me.) and the responsible are left without any benefits. The state will argue that they can do without help so money can be saved there. Then again, why should they pay?
I guess this is no way to have the discussion though. We should go through one topic at the time instead of the rambling I just made. It'll then become clear that there are major deficiencies in our system. It was hard to admit for me because I've been spoon fed that it's fair and near perfect. But since I've accepted the truth this brainwashing has annoyed me more and more.
You could probably say what some people I thought were my friends said - "I'm looking forward to the time when you leave this country". It's sad one cannot be critical and point to obvious flaws. This misplaced patriotism isn't really patriotism at all.
So ignore the above opinions Daff. You pick a topic or I will, and we can objectively debate it. The numbers are quite scary though (talking economy/redistribution of wealth here).