|
A Collection of Internet JokesBy Category |
Political and Social Commentary by Dave Satre
Where's
The Best Place To Live?
Norway has been named the best country in which to live for six years in a row. This is primarily due to the population's iconoclastic view of the world, the government's fiscal restraint and its cradle to grave security policy as well as its North Sea Oil industry. The country takes care of its people. Nobody starves, healthcare is free, education is free at all levels and for all ages, and every citizen receives enough social security to live comfortably upon retirement. Norwegians also work the fewest hours of the people of any industrial democracy, they have more holidays than most countries and extremely generous benefits and sick leave policies. This alone makes life much easier and eliminates the primary worries facing most Americans living in a country in which its government is corrupt, its business leaders are greedy and its system is literally designed to drive most of its citizens into bankruptcy at some point in their lives, primarily old age. This lifestyle is due to the Norwegian government's financial acumen and service to its citizens. Norway’s economy grew almost three percent in 2008, a year in which most of the world's countries found themselves in a recession. The government has a current budget surplus of 11 percent and has no national debt. By comparison, the United States' expected fiscal deficit this year is expected to be 12.9 percent of its gross domestic product. Our national debt has topped the $11 trillion mark, which equals 65 percent of our economy. Norway is the third-largest oil exporter in the world --- its oil revenue was $68 billion in 2008. This money goes directly into its sovereign wealth fund, which is among the largest in the world. Sovereign wealth funds are government funds invested by such countries as the primary oil producers (not including America), the United Arab Emirates, Singapore, Kuwait, Russia and China. Norway’s $300 billion sovereign wealth fund accounts for about 23 percent of the country's economic output. In the US, the oil money goes into the pockets of the ultra rich, an industry that has recently enjoyed the highest profits in the history of mankind, arbitrarily raised its prices to squeeze out these irrational profits and still has the audacity to request financial support from our taxpayers. The Norwegian banking system is healthy, due to their prudent lending and investment policies and government oversight that keeps them from the senseless risks that caused American banks to crash and burn. The people and their government have the intelligence to realize that markets cannot regulate themselves. The next time someone tells you that America is the best place to live, tell them about Norway. They may be quite surprised. Especially when discussions of healthcare and education costs arise. Dave Satre Links for More Info: http://www.nytimes.com/2009/05/14/business/global/14frugal.html?_r=1 |
| CLICK
HERE
|
