Truth about Denmark?

[Doctor X]

Forgive if I mix up some details, but one thing I like about Denmark was their actions in WWII.

Like many other small European countries armed with the most advanced spears, they lasted roughly 47.8 minutes against the Germans. The difference was their behavior. I believe King Christian use to ride his horse every day in Coopenhagen. When the Nazis started to force the Jews to wear Jewish stars, the royal family started wearing Jewish stars. Apparently, everyone started wearing the stars which effectively ruined the first part of the Nazi plans.

I am not sure of the exact figures--since it has been years since I read up on it--but a rather staggeringly large number of Jews were saved by Danes. While my ancestors and others were more than happy to point out their fellow citizens to the Nazis--and pretend that snow storms of ashes were "nothing unusual"--the Danes risked their lives to save their Jewish population.

Furthermore, while overrun, the Danes were hardly beaten. Their resistance drove the Nazi's crazy. The Nazis expected conquest of Denmark to be a "given." It was not.

Some day I hope to visit.

--J.D.

 

[CFLarsen]

Doctor X,

You are right and wrong. Very wrong.

Yes, we didn't last long - a couple of hours - when we were invaded by Germany.

Yes, Christian X rode his horse (almost) everyday through Copenhagen.

No, the royal family did not wear the Star of David.

No, everyone did not start to wear the Star of David.

About 90% of all Danish Jews managed, with the help of the underground movement, to escape to Sweden. Also, a lot of communists, socialists, policemen, etc. got away.

No, we were beaten. The Danish government collaborated up until 1943 with the Germans, when the Germans abolished government and dissolved the police. It was a 'given' that Denmark would not put up a strong military resistance.

Yes, towards the end of the war, the restistance grew and did manage to hurt the Germans pretty well. Most, however, did nothing.

But it is a nice country....

 

[ceo_esq]

In my experience, the Danes are outstanding folks and they have a workable system going.

Unlike some of the posters here, though, I don't think the Danish model could be transferred to the United States under the current circumstances.

It's been recently discussed in another thread, but one of the primary reasons that a number of European countries (and Denmark is one example) have consistently been able to devote such a high proportion of tax revenue to social welfare expenditures is generous - and expensive - security guarantees from the United States over the past few decades. It does tend to free up a lot of money for the Europeans, but this arrangement would quickly break down if the country with the deepest pockets also elected to become a welfare state.

 

[Mike B.]

Correct me if I am wrong...
But I remember hearing that the "real" Hamlet in Denmark was not the Shakespearan character but was a Viking, and lived long before the supposed time in the play.

(Sorry reading about the Hamlet castle above made me wonder.)

 

[CFLarsen]

Correct me if I am wrong...
But I remember hearing that the "real" Hamlet in Denmark was not the Shakespearan character but was a Viking, and lived long before the supposed time in the play.

(Sorry reading about the Hamlet castle above made me wonder.)

Prince Amled. Read Saxo Grammaticus.

 

[FalsePerception]

Now my last question or observation I should say

There seems to be many danes on this forum

So danes must be pretty skeptical right thinking people if such a large percentage are this forum No psuedoscience in denmark???

Seriously I wonder why so many danes are this forum? Can somebody give me an explanation?

 

[mbp]

Prince Amled. Read Saxo Grammaticus.

In this translation he's called "Amleth". The story is on this page, about 3/4 of the way down.

 

[a_unique_person]

Now my last question or observation I should say

There seems to be many danes on this forum

So danes must be pretty skeptical right thinking people if such a large percentage are this forum No psuedoscience in denmark???

Seriously I wonder why so many danes are this forum? Can somebody give me an explanation?

Because, like Australia, both countries are interested in equality, education and are interested in the rest of the world.

 

[mbp]

So danes must be pretty skeptical right thinking people if such a large percentage are this forum No psuedoscience in denmark???

I wish!
Unfortunately we do have our share of nonsense and plenty of people willing to believe in it.

Seriously I wonder why so many danes are this forum? Can somebody give me an explanation?

I have wondered about that myself.
Maybe the combination of having a very small country and a very widespread knowledge of English makes it more natural for Danes to look abroad for a forum like this, whereas people from a larger country like Italy or Germany are more likely to go for something in their own language?
But on the other hand the number of Danes here is probably small enough for it to just be a coincidence.

 

[Ladewig]

Maybe the combination of having a very small country and a very widespread knowledge of English makes it more natural for Danes to look abroad for a forum like this, whereas people from a larger country like Italy or Germany are more likely to go for something in their own language?

That might also explain the Dutch presence here.
doeeeeeeeeeei.

 

[iain]

That might also explain the Dutch presence here.
doeeeeeeeeeei.

Misschien, maar ik ben Engels. Ik woon nu in Nederland maar ik ga terug naar Engeland in een paar maanden.

 

[Aardvark_DK]

Misschien, maar ik ben Engels. Ik woon nu in Nederland maar ik ga terug naar Engeland in een paar maanden.

Have anyone noticed how many vowels Dutch people waste? Seems they can't get through more than a couple of words before they have to fit in a double-a or double-o. It's sad really.

Will you marry me ?

Another bloody marriage offer! This is getting ridiculous.

You certainly would. Although Claus says the amount [welfare] isn't much, it is certainly large enough that many people would actually see a decrease in their income if they got a job.

This is just plain wrong. With a low-income full-time job you'd have about 8000 kroner a month (after tax). On welfare you only get about 5000 per month (although you might be entitled to some kind of extra-support if you have a high rent on your flat).

We do get something in return for our tax money, but the current level of taxation is ridiculous.

You have to take into account that wages are higher too. What you have to look at is the net sum, and I don't think we're worse of than other countries.

 

[Drooper]

Have anyone noticed how many vowels Dutch people waste? Seems they can't get through more than a couple of words before they have to fit in a double-a or double-o. It's sad really.

Personally, I am worried about this level of vowel emissions. It can't be good for the environment.

I think I read somewhere that it is contributing to global warming, the hole in the ozone layer, increasing teenage pregnancies or something.

 

[Drooper]

No, I've just realised. This is the famed Dutch initiative to RESTORE the ozone layer.

 

[mbp]

This is just plain wrong. With a low-income full-time job you'd have about 8000 kroner a month (after tax). On welfare you only get about 5000 per month (although you might be entitled to some kind of extra-support if you have a high rent on your flat).

That's probably about right for a single person with no children. But if you then subtract the costs that go with having a job (transportation, unemployment insurance, mandatory union membership in many low-income jobs) you could well end up only having 1000 kr. more pr. month in exchange for giving up forty hours a week. Not everyone will see this as a good deal.

But if you consider a family of four where both parents are on welfare, the situation is much worse. Because they have children their welfare is much higher, but if one of them gets a job they stand to lose most of it. In such a low-income job will be of no use whatsoever.

You have to take into account that wages are higher too. What you have to look at is the net sum, and I don't think we're worse of than other countries.

Our wages aren't that much higher if at all. I know that I personally could earn more and pay less in taxes by moving abroad and I know people who have done so.
You don't even have to go to one of the "traditional" low-tax countries. My father is working in Norway at the moment, paying noticeably less in taxes than he would here. And the wages up there are comparable to those in Denmark.

 

[Aardvark_DK]

But if you then subtract the costs that go with having a job (transportation, unemployment insurance, mandatory union membership in many low-income jobs) you could well end up only having 1000 kr. more pr. month in exchange for giving up forty hours a week.

I think that's a stretch. I'm not saying it can't be true, but I've never known anyone who had to put up 2000-3000 on transportation, unemployment insurance and mandatory union membership (do you know anyone in a low-income job for whom union membership is mandatory?).

But if you consider a family of four where both parents are on welfare, the situation is much worse. Because they have children their welfare is much higher, but if one of them gets a job they stand to lose most of it. In such a low-income job will be of no use whatsoever.

Quite likely and very unfortunate. I'm not sure what the solution would be.

You don't even have to go to one of the "traditional" low-tax countries. My father is working in Norway at the moment, paying noticeably less in taxes than he would here. And the wages up there are comparable to those in Denmark.

Working abroad is a bad example because entirely different taxation rules come into play. And Norway is definitely a bad example because of their oil (same as Alaska, though not as extreme).

But if you want to make a lot of money, then this is not the ideal place to live, absolutely. Denmark is very much about security - you can be sure that no matter what happens you'll be taken care of. (Except if your teeth are troubling you. For some obscure reason dental care is not free. Very annoying.)

 

[Smalso]

So what is the kr-$(US) rate?

One of the things that came out in my conversations with my Danish hosts was a resentment towards the US following World War II. The Danish people felt that they had suffered at the hands of the Germans as much as anyone else and had done as much as anyone else in helping to defeat the Germans, but that they were more or less ignored by the Marshall Plan when it came to helping rebuild. This from those who could remember the war and who suffered through the occupation.

 

[Aardvark_DK]

one dollar = 6.9 kroner.

 

[Shaun from Scotland]

No, I've just realised. This is the famed Dutch initiative to RESTORE the ozone layer.

Can they not start an initiative to get rid of Albert Hein and Appelflappen?

Despite the monicker I live in Holland at the minute.

Oh and Oliebolen as well.........

 

[Drooper]

Can they not start an initiative to get rid of Albert Hein and Appelflappen?

Despite the monicker I live in Holland at the minute.

Oh and Oliebolen as well.........

You'll have to educate me on this one.