A Conservative View

SOCIALISM – DENMARK STYLE!

I selected Denmark as a benchmark for Americans to evaluate as it is probably the best example of a European Socialist democracy. I also spent a lot of time in Denmark when they were re-aligning their society to accommodate their younger people’s desire for expanded life styles. It was similar to the post Vietnam period in America when the hippies and druggies protested just about everything. This is the same type of protest we see today in our cities begging for a Socialist America.

Copenhagen at that time was, and I am certain still is, a beautiful city. It was sickening to me to walk through the city and see discarded drug syringes in the flower beds and condoms on the ground in the parks but they had the freedom to do as they desired. Hopefully this has changed as it has been some 20 years since my last visit.

One other memory was on a tour of Copenhagen and the guide pointed out all of the beautiful buildings such as hospitals, cultural centers, museums, government offices and boasted about everything being free. Free medical care; free everything that he described, it sounded like Utopia. He was then asked how much of his salary went to taxes and he boasted, only 48%. I have read enough about Denmark today to convince me the people are happy with their lifestyle and rules.

LET ME SHARE SOME FACTS TO PONDER

Denmark is a constitutional monarchy. I suppose that is why our President is so enthralled with changing America into a European democracy and his love for Denmark. He can become the first “King” of America.

Political life in Denmark is orderly and democratic. Political changes occur gradually through a process of consensus, and political methods and attitudes are generally moderate. Growing numbers of immigrants and refugees throughout the 1990s, led to over a decade of growing support for anti-immigrant and already-tight immigration laws, the latest revision taking effect August 10, 2009. However, the left-of-center government that took office October 3, 2011 has indicated it will seek to ease immigration requirements. Sounds like what happened here when Obama and Holder took power.

The Social Democratic Party is a well-organized labor movement but today appealing more broadly to the middle class, held power either alone or in coalition for most of the postwar period except from 1982 to 1993. That was the time frame of my visits. Then the Danish People’s Party was a key factor in bringing into power a new minority right-of-center coalition government today led by Liberal Party chief Anders Rasmussen. Sounds familiar and fits Obama’s dreams of a world order someday. At least the Marxist are not there, yet.

The judicial branch consists of 22 local courts, two high courts, several special courts (e.g., arbitration and maritime), and a Supreme Court of 15 judges appointed by the crown on the government’s recommendation.

Denmark is divided into five regions and 98 municipalities. The regions and municipalities are both led by councils elected every 4 years, but only the municipal councils have the power to levy taxes. Regional councils are responsible for health services and regional development, while the municipal councils are responsible for day care, elementary schools, and care for the elderly, culture, environment, and roads. Total government control, the Socialist dream for America.

Danes are proud of their welfare safety net, which ensures that all Danes receive basic health care and need not fear poverty. The portion of working-age Danes (16 to 66-year-olds) that are living on government welfare is 24% (2010). Health care, other than for acute needs, and care for the elderly and children has suffered. About one-third of the labor force is employed in the public sector. Can you imagine America if over 100,000,000 worked for a government? On second thought if we count the ones who don’t work and live off of the government, we likely exceed one third of the population.

Now look at how they pay all of this Socialist happiness; 

a) Everyone pays a flat 8% Social Contribution tax.

b) If you make over 42,900 Dkk ($7559.44 US dollars) you have municipal taxes range from 23% – 28%, Health tax 8%, Base state tax 3.76%.

c) If you make over 389,900 Dkk ($66,673.26 US dollars) you have the same 23-28% municipal tax and the 8% health tax but your state tax rate is 15%. The maximum rate for these taxes cannot exceed 51.5%, 51.5 + 8 = 59.5%.

How do you like them apples???????????????????? Well there is more and Denmark has a non-deductable Value Added Tax (VAT) that we have so far avoided in America. This tax is applied every time something changes hands. It is only 25%. If you are unfamiliar with a VAT tax, you best get acquainted as this will be the next method to squeeze more out of everyone and will just make the poor people poorer.

Denmark also has mandatory military service (includes things like our Peace Corps, etc.) for the fit and able. I bet the “Occupy our Cities” bunch would love this. This why Denmark does not have the civil unrest and fewer prisons than we do. If we had the same rule in America we could have the peace and prosperity we used to enjoy. Here we just pay people not to work to gain their votes so they can use crime to enhance their welfare.

Denmark is about the size of New Hampshire and Vermont combined and with some 5.5 million citizens is nearly 3 times the number we have in these two states. 

It is a great place to visit but would you want to live there? One thing is certain; if the “Occupiers” applied for political asylum they would be denied. Maybe Obama will use his pied pipe and lead these other unhappy Socialist somewhere else. It would be easier to establish his Kingdom in Africa where there is a lot more space and he could be happy. He already has family ties there and the boys even look like they could be his sons.

C Brewer