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Comment by Barrin92 | Hacker News Reader

You're being sarcastic but will Wilkinson took this question seriously years ago in a piece to address libertarians[1]

>[...]"The important thing to note, in this case, is that the scholars making these assumptions, Ian Vásquez and Tanja Porčnik, former Cato Institute colleagues of mine, are libertarians who understand freedom as “the absence of coercive constraint.” And when they apply that notion of freedom and stick all their Koch-funded assumptions into an index and add everything up, Denmark, which is what Bernie Sanders thinks of as a model of “democratic socialism,” comes out a lot freer than the United States. Canada, which has precisely the sort of single-payer health-care system Bernie Sanders wants, comes out a lot freer than the United States—on a libertarian index of freedom."[...]

[1]https://www.niskanencenter.org/is-there-a-libertarian-case-f...

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There's this current love affair with Denmark and I'm genuinely intrigued. Can you take this tiny model and actually extrapolate it? Is it as great as some would say? It seems people outside Denmark are more vocal about it than locals.

I recently watched this special documentary (I'll try to recover the source) where they interviewed locals. And they said yes it's great and it's very progressive so long as you follow the Danish way and don't veer off too much. And to me, no matter what "research" you have, that speaks volumes regarding freedom. Can you actually be different and not only enjoy life, but truly succeed while being different there compared to other countries?

And would the Danish way contribute what the USA has to the world (even adjusting for population) in such a short period of time? Just my opinion, but I don't think so.

Now it does seem that if you were to pick a country that would have the largest % of people happy, and that was your ideal, you'd be a Dane. But if you believe in individual liberty, high achievement, competition, and diversity, then there is no comparison. USA or some other countries.

I'm not saying one is good and one is bad. We're talking about fundamental differences so whatever floats your boat.

But I think what we are seeing is a lot of people trying to fundamentally alter a country who's sole foundation, despite its warts, is responsible for its success. And they're trying to cheerlead a small country's identity to do so.

Regarding Bernie - the argument for him as a libertarian candidate is nonsense. He has no regard for states' rights.

> Now it does seem that if you were to pick a country that would have the largest % of people happy, and that was your ideal, you'd be a Dane. But if you believe in individual liberty, high achievement, competition, and diversity, then there is no comparison. USA or some other countries.

On diversity you are correct. But which individual liberties are Danes lacking? Guns?

Tax rate is certainly high, but it is very much a free-market economy and very business friendly. How do you define high achievement? Living a comfortable and secure life? Getting a college degree? Becoming a billionaire?

Yes I love a lot of things about their style but they don't value individual achievement which puts them at a disadvantage in many respects because every so often you get an incredibly transformative figure if you cultivate that culture.

They dont celebrate winning like other countries. I totally understand and respect it but it's just not my style. I don't think it brings out the best but I admit it may please more people.

I bounced back and forth between Denmark and the US for many years, though I've been in the US for the past 4 years now.

The best way to understand Denmark from an American perspective would be something like "Imagine if everyone in America was lower-middle class". Whether this is better or worse for you obviously depends on whether you're poor, middle, upper middle or upper class.

For me, Danish culture was something of a nightmare of 'tall poppy syndrome' and bleak, hopelessness that hard work doesn't pay and that no matter what you do, you're stuck eating sack lunches and taking the bus to work because your spouse needs the one car your family can afford. That said, if I had an intellect that limited academic abilities or a more naturally lethargic approach to school and work, I'd certainly find my life more comfortable in Denmark and see the American model as unforgiving.

Basically, Denmark pulls up the bottom towards the median, at the cost of pulling down the top towards the same point, to a far larger degree than the US. Everybody gets just enough, but nobody is allowed to have more than just enough.

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