I found your answer. Here is an interview with some people from Denmark, the happiest nation in the world.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=shepBx2ogJo
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=shepBx2ogJo
What's the secret to happiness in Buenos Aires?
- Thread starter Quickroute
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Quickroute
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Coincidentally enough (as the person who started this thread) - I spent a few summers working in Copenhagen way back. Sure the tax was high but..
I think the Danes are pretty damn happy alright!
- Free Medical
- Free Dental
- Free Education
- Blonde blue eyed beauties
I think the Danes are pretty damn happy alright!
lostnation
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A quick rant, hopefully not too political 
People everywhere, but especially in the Western world, owe it to themselves to look past the campaign of misinformation and fear regarding "socialism". It is not a system that tries to make everyone the same or take away individuality, but simply to work towards a system where the value created by working people is used to better their lives instead of the few at the top. Folks should realize that the American government make a hugely conscious effort to demonize class struggle in the 50's, 60's etc. Why? Because making people afraid is the most effective way to maintain the status quo.
To many the ideas behnid socialism sound idealistic and utopian. What is actually utopian, is the idea that capitalism and the free market is the best system out there. Capitalism is a system of boom and bust, there will never be equilibrium. The current crisis is a perfect example of how unsustainable this system is. Surely the richest country in the world can provide adequate healthcare and education for its citizens?
Anyway, I would agree that the Danes (and others) have it much more figured out than Americans. I was raised in America, but we work more than most countries and we are unhappier. It is a fact. I am looking forward to relocating to BA (temporarily at least) because the enjoyment of life seems to have more of the importance it deserves. There is no country in the past or present that has been truly Socialist, but there are many that are Democratic-Socialist where the quality of life is higher. Just my two cents!
People everywhere, but especially in the Western world, owe it to themselves to look past the campaign of misinformation and fear regarding "socialism". It is not a system that tries to make everyone the same or take away individuality, but simply to work towards a system where the value created by working people is used to better their lives instead of the few at the top. Folks should realize that the American government make a hugely conscious effort to demonize class struggle in the 50's, 60's etc. Why? Because making people afraid is the most effective way to maintain the status quo.
To many the ideas behnid socialism sound idealistic and utopian. What is actually utopian, is the idea that capitalism and the free market is the best system out there. Capitalism is a system of boom and bust, there will never be equilibrium. The current crisis is a perfect example of how unsustainable this system is. Surely the richest country in the world can provide adequate healthcare and education for its citizens?
Anyway, I would agree that the Danes (and others) have it much more figured out than Americans. I was raised in America, but we work more than most countries and we are unhappier. It is a fact. I am looking forward to relocating to BA (temporarily at least) because the enjoyment of life seems to have more of the importance it deserves. There is no country in the past or present that has been truly Socialist, but there are many that are Democratic-Socialist where the quality of life is higher. Just my two cents!
Lostnation "Because making people afraid is the most effective way to maintain the status quo." "Surely the richest country in the world can provide adequate healthcare and education for its citizens?"
Good points... I will tell you as an educator/scientist...the education/science in US is lacking, because the standards are no such where critical thinking and questioning are allowed. The current thought in education is fill in a bubble or better yet become a better "slave" worker. Don't ask questions. As far as the science research goes..we were limited on what we could use; meanwhile our counter parts in other parts of the world were allowed access to better/effective research methods. This was again part of "the way" to limit our exploration of advancement in areas of science.
Mini-couldn't get that video, but this one is good.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fTGKUwMegZ4&feature=related
I think the Danes are happier because as "they are not judge for their choices in life." Given some freedoms to explore what they enjoy in life. If the weather is rainy all the time, maybe they are making more love Just a thought
Good points... I will tell you as an educator/scientist...the education/science in US is lacking, because the standards are no such where critical thinking and questioning are allowed. The current thought in education is fill in a bubble or better yet become a better "slave" worker. Don't ask questions. As far as the science research goes..we were limited on what we could use; meanwhile our counter parts in other parts of the world were allowed access to better/effective research methods. This was again part of "the way" to limit our exploration of advancement in areas of science.
Mini-couldn't get that video, but this one is good.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fTGKUwMegZ4&feature=related
I think the Danes are happier because as "they are not judge for their choices in life." Given some freedoms to explore what they enjoy in life. If the weather is rainy all the time, maybe they are making more love
Just a thoughtmysweetladyjenny
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Posted by jp
India is very religious, do you think religion/faith plays a role? Kind of "we are miserable here, but we will be happy there", and just curious I´ve read some time along that the scandinavian countries had the highest suicide rates, then how can they be among the happiest?
I´m sorry I didn´t follow up the thread but the member who posted that, where did you get that information from? Shitty weather as some of you say, bring sthg. called stational depression, since they don´t see the sun like say for 9 months, and some internal body mechanism needs some dosis of good weather/sun, so I don´t get it. And if not just look at Brazilians and the joy they transmit, dancing singing, it´s like why bother, life is fine as it is.
As to Buenos Aires, I think as a porteña that people in this country give more importance to family and friends than money, in other countries you are what you have (materially speaking), here the equation is simplier, maybe because the great majority knows that we won´t drive a BMW, so enjoy what you have, and don´t lose your precious time to get what you don´t and who knows even if you work your ass out you´ll ever have .
Think about all the exmultinational unemployed executives/workers.
Add to this that argentines can never guess the pipeline ahead, maybe you wake up and us/peso exchange rate is 10/1 or 1/1, corralitos, corralones, coup d`etats, import/export fees changing overnight, so even if you work night and day...who knows?.
At the same time, many of those who "made it" (laboralmente hablando) have not done it through etical means, or climbing up the corporate ladder so they are often "disregarded" or looked with disdain by society since many rightfully start to wonder how they got there (yes, some did it lawfully but many many are there thanks to bribes, lobbying, political positions, connections, but not all of them through hard work)
It´s more kind of a "seize the day" philosophy (spend your leisure time with friends and family and don´t let your job interfere with your private sphere) vs "matate trabajando" and retire early.
If some of you have watched Carlos Sorin´s films, maybe you can get a glimpse of what we understand by living happily or just living. Historias Mínimas, bonbon el perro, etc...can give a clue.
Regards
Barbara
India is very religious, do you think religion/faith plays a role? Kind of "we are miserable here, but we will be happy there", and just curious I´ve read some time along that the scandinavian countries had the highest suicide rates, then how can they be among the happiest?
I´m sorry I didn´t follow up the thread but the member who posted that, where did you get that information from? Shitty weather as some of you say, bring sthg. called stational depression, since they don´t see the sun like say for 9 months, and some internal body mechanism needs some dosis of good weather/sun, so I don´t get it. And if not just look at Brazilians and the joy they transmit, dancing singing, it´s like why bother, life is fine as it is.
As to Buenos Aires, I think as a porteña that people in this country give more importance to family and friends than money, in other countries you are what you have (materially speaking), here the equation is simplier, maybe because the great majority knows that we won´t drive a BMW, so enjoy what you have, and don´t lose your precious time to get what you don´t and who knows even if you work your ass out you´ll ever have .
Think about all the exmultinational unemployed executives/workers.
Add to this that argentines can never guess the pipeline ahead, maybe you wake up and us/peso exchange rate is 10/1 or 1/1, corralitos, corralones, coup d`etats, import/export fees changing overnight, so even if you work night and day...who knows?.
At the same time, many of those who "made it" (laboralmente hablando) have not done it through etical means, or climbing up the corporate ladder so they are often "disregarded" or looked with disdain by society since many rightfully start to wonder how they got there (yes, some did it lawfully but many many are there thanks to bribes, lobbying, political positions, connections, but not all of them through hard work)
It´s more kind of a "seize the day" philosophy (spend your leisure time with friends and family and don´t let your job interfere with your private sphere) vs "matate trabajando" and retire early.
If some of you have watched Carlos Sorin´s films, maybe you can get a glimpse of what we understand by living happily or just living. Historias Mínimas, bonbon el perro, etc...can give a clue.
Regards
Barbara
elhombresinnombre
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mysweetladyjenny said:
I have both those films on the shelf over this computer. Wonderful movies. If you are not familiar with Sorin and his work, take a tip from me: watch Historias Minimas all the way through before you do anything else. Then, while you are still in awe of this brilliant movie, watch the "extras" section on the DVD and be blown away when you find out how he made it.
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