Denmark, Copenhagen: The quality of life.

October 27, 8:07 PMSan Jose Foreign Policy ExaminerMelanie Biton

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The Little Mermaid statue in Copenhagen
http://www.eveandersson.com/photo-display/large/denmark/copenhagen-little-mermaid-2.html

For a country popular for it’s The Little Mermaid statue (developed by Hans Christian Anderson and produced by Disney), Copenhagen is the capital and largest city of Denmark and is so tempting and yet wonderful that it makes the United States look like the ugly sea witch rather than the beautiful mermaid.
Unlike the federal government of the United States, Copenhagen runs on a form of constitutional monarchy, in which the power of the king or queen (monarch) is kept by a parliament, by law, or by custom.
In Denmark, Copenhagen, the quality of family and work life is the most important. The Global Competitiveness Index 2009-2010 ranks Denmark in the top five along side Switzerland, United States, Singapore and Sweden (in that order from Switzerland being number one). Denmark has minimal import barriers, one of the most flexible labor markets, and one of the lowest unemployment rates. One of the most important aspects of Denmark is the universal healthcare provision, which benefits the city having one of the highest cancer rates in Europe. Educational services are also free, resulting in Denmark having high standards for job quality. Citizens are offered services of public childcare, public education, public health and home care and no charge to them.
In the United States, most employed workers get under paid and over worked. In Denmark the balance between family and work is just that, balanced. Copenhagen is a safe and family oriented country, good for raising children and filled with many recreational activities. The Danish welfare system follows economic growth and a high standard of living. Resulting with people having more benefits compared to other people in other countries. Straight to the point, the people are supported in times of unemployment, old age and sickness. This is seen through the Scandinavian welfare society, in which citizens benefit from universal, public and equal support. This also means that foreigners can get a piece of the benefits living in Denmark.
For example, Denmark gives generous parental benefits when dealing with maternity leave. Pregnant woman can take a leave four weeks before the birth and fourteen weeks after the birth. The doctor can also adjust this time depending on he condition of the mother. The father is given two weeks within the first fourteen weeks after the birth. Upon the child’s fourteen weeks on this earth, the parents are then given an additional thirty-two weeks left between the both of them.
This can be compared to the debate in the United States on health care. Where health care is argued to be a basic human right or entitlement. Let us remember the preamble of The Universal Declaration of Human Rights;

• Whereas recognition of the inherent dignity and of the equal and inalienable rights of all members of the human family is the foundation of freedom, justice and peace in the world,
• Whereas disregard and contempt for human rights have resulted in barbarous acts, which have outraged the conscience of mankind, and the advent of a world, in which human beings shall enjoy freedom of speech and belief and freedom from fear and want has been proclaimed as the highest aspiration of the common people,
• Whereas it is essential, if man is not to be compelled to have recourse, as a last resort, to rebellion against tyranny and oppression, that human rights should be protected by the rule of law,
• Whereas it is essential to promote the development of friendly relations between nations,
• Whereas the peoples of the United Nations have in the Charter reaffirmed their faith in fundamental human rights, in the dignity and worth of the human person and in the equal rights of men and women and have determined to promote social progress and better standards of life in larger freedom,
• Whereas Member States have pledged themselves to achieve, in co-operation with the United Nations, the promotion of universal respect for and observance of human rights and fundamental freedoms,
• Whereas a common understanding of these rights and freedoms is of the greatest importance for the full realization of this pledge,
• Now, Therefore THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY proclaims THIS UNIVERSAL DECLARATION OF HUMAN RIGHTS as a common standard of achievement for all peoples and all nations, to the end that every individual and every organ of society, keeping this Declaration constantly in mind, shall strive by teaching and education to promote respect for these rights and freedoms and by progressive measures, national and international, to secure their universal and effective recognition and observance, both among the peoples of Member States themselves and among the peoples of territories under their jurisdiction.

Today’s take away will be the importance of the quality of life. Denmark has been called the happiest place on earth and this is evident even with Denmark having the world’s highest tax burden. We must remember that at the end, we strive for the best quality of life and we deserve it.





Article inspired by Oprah's show on October 21, 2009. This and other articles are based on my personal view and understanding. Always questions the information given to you and never believe the hype.