Happiest Nations in the World

[buster]

http://www.forbes.com/2009/05/05/world-h...thisSpeed=15000

Quote:
According to a new report released by the Organization for Economic Co-Operation and Development, a Paris-based group of 30 countries with democratic governments that provides economic and social statistics and data, happiness levels are highest in northern European countries.

 

[crinkles]

NZ was a surprise!

 

[oilboy123]

Wow, lot's of Nordic countries.......

I kind of don't like the idea of a socialist country in some ways. But this has got my mind open to the indoctrination........

It is interesting that they seem to be happier....

Not to make this political but, I wanted to vote for McCain but could see the the enthusiasm around Obama. I voted McCain in the end but wish Obama the Best.

By the way I was born in the same hospital as him 1 mth after he was in Honolulu, HI. I even have the original birth certificat that shows the Hawaiian Queen. I will have to post that some time. Could not resist putting that in......
My closest brush with fame. Funny that my Mom had a Time Life book from the library that was just about Obama. Had pics of him growing up in Hawaii in the sixties and it made me think about myself living on the Islands at the same time period.

Problem was I believe that he lived in Honolulu while we moved from around to three of the islands. I believe that I only lived in Honolulu until I was about 3 or so....can't remember? But I digress..........

Dang I posted and remembered........Crinkles just reminded me.

I was at my Aunt and Uncles house last week and my Cousin came by and had a friend he introduced. I realized that after hearing him talk for a bit he sounded Australian. Nope he said he was from New Zealand.......I thought that was interesting. Since he was from another country that he sounded just like he was from Australia........Shows my ignorance......I thought he was for sure from Australia.......

 

[river_rat]

Every country is socialist. It's just a question of degrees.
Better than being totally anti-social, I guess.

 

[Pablo]

Not a whole lot of racial diversity in those places. Some, but no real melting pots. I always wonder about those kinda "polls".

 

[mormit]

Not surprised.

I've been to Sweden twice for work reasons. High concentration of engineering and high tech companies. My overall impression was that it is a place where they really have their act together. That and lots of lovely ladies and the reindeer is delicious.

The nordic stock I have in my portfolio has been my strongest performer.

 

[urrlord]

"Not whole lot racial diversity in those places."
a homogenous culture always has less friction.i guess they use good oil to keep it that way.

 

[StevieC]

I'm sure Canada

would be higher on the list if the winters weren't so freakin' long and cold here

 

[Gary Allan]

Most of those nations are suffering the same demographic stress that we are. If they haven't already, they're soon going to have to open up to alien cultures to keep the trains on time.

 

[mormit]

Originally Posted By: urrlord
"Not whole lot racial diversity in those places."
a homogenous culture always has less friction.i guess they use good oil to keep it that way.


They have historically been very helpfull to outsiders....ok maybe not in the Viking days. However....

In WWII just before the Nazis were to round up the Danish Jews in occuppied Denmark, the Danes smuggled them out at great personal risk. They were occupied at the time. The Swedes took thousands in also at great risk. They wre entirely surrounded by Nazi occupied land.

 

[Cutehumor]

U.S.A is a great place to live. The credit system here was great for deadbeats. Get 8 credit cards with $25k limit on each card, buy a mcmansion with no money down, and drive a 35k SUV on $35k/year.

 

[Nickdfresh]

Originally Posted By: mormit
Originally Posted By: urrlord
"Not whole lot racial diversity in those places."
a homogenous culture always has less friction.i guess they use good oil to keep it that way.


They have historically been very helpfull to outsiders....ok maybe not in the Viking days. However....

In WWII just before the Nazis were to round up the Danish Jews in occuppied Denmark, the Danes smuggled them out at great personal risk. They were occupied at the time. The Swedes took thousands in also at great risk. They wre entirely surrounded by Nazi occupied land.



I like Sweden, but let's not give them a pass on WWII. They sold lots of ammunition to the Third Reich...

 

[XS650]

Originally Posted By: Nickdfresh
Originally Posted By: mormit
Originally Posted By: urrlord
"Not whole lot racial diversity in those places."
a homogenous culture always has less friction.i guess they use good oil to keep it that way.


They have historically been very helpfull to outsiders....ok maybe not in the Viking days. However....

In WWII just before the Nazis were to round up the Danish Jews in occuppied Denmark, the Danes smuggled them out at great personal risk. They were occupied at the time. The Swedes took thousands in also at great risk. They wre entirely surrounded by Nazi occupied land.



I like Sweden, but let's not give them a pass on WWII. They sold lots of ammunition to the Third Reich...


Were they as crucial to the Third Reich's effort as GM and Ford?

 

[KilgoreBass]

I wonder if Iceland would have been on the list a year ago, before their economy collapsed into dust???

 

[Nickdfresh]

Originally Posted By: XS650
Originally Posted By: Nickdfresh
Originally Posted By: mormit
Originally Posted By: urrlord
"Not whole lot racial diversity in those places."
a homogenous culture always has less friction.i guess they use good oil to keep it that way.


They have historically been very helpfull to outsiders....ok maybe not in the Viking days. However....

In WWII just before the Nazis were to round up the Danish Jews in occuppied Denmark, the Danes smuggled them out at great personal risk. They were occupied at the time. The Swedes took thousands in also at great risk. They wre entirely surrounded by Nazi occupied land.



I like Sweden, but let's not give them a pass on WWII. They sold lots of ammunition to the Third Reich...


Were they as crucial to the Third Reich's effort as GM and Ford?


I dunno in the grand scheme of things - but the sale of ammunition to the Wehrmacht did much to undermine the strategic bombing efforts of the USAAF and RAF...

And at least Ford and GM can say they made a lot of weapons for the Allies. Although, to be fair, all sides used the excellent 40mm Swedish Bofors AA guns...

 

[NJC]

Originally Posted By: StevieC
I'm sure Canada

would be higher on the list if the winters weren't so freakin' long and cold here

I must look into this Canadian winter phenomenon.

 

[GROUCHO MARX]

Best nation on Earth?

The Do-Nation!

Send some $$$ my way.

 

[dwendt44]

Yea, Oilboy, I'd love to see your birth certificate.
Some are pretty plain, others fairly ornate.

 

[Gary Allan]

Mine looked like a receipt you pull out for when someone pays the rent ..or a deposit slip. Hand written and stamped with one of those seals. Plain white with a few "on the day of ________19___

That's how it was in Nahtahn Mass ..back in the day..

It looks fake to most employers.

 

[Tempest]

Originally Posted By: Pablo
Not a whole lot of racial diversity in those places. Some, but no real melting pots. I always wonder about those kinda "polls".

Not a lot of population increase, either. Some of those might actually be losing population.

As someone said, indoctrination is probably playing a large part.