Finland way ahead of U.S. in many ways

Honolulu Star Bulletin ^ | 12/12/03 | Nancy Bey Little

[GrandmaPatriot]

The article about Finland in your Dec. 7 Travel section was interesting. We like to think that we are the most advanced country in the world, but that seems to apply only to weapons, and many others (even in "Old Europe") are far ahead of us. Helsinki, a small capital city of 500,000, has an underground metro and light-rail trams. Finland has the most successful economy in the world and provides its citizens with many social benefits: education through graduate school, generous child-care leave, $100-per-month child payments until age 16 and health care. Our radical right-wing would sniff "socialism," but they are way ahead of us. And they are not squandering billions of dollars and human lives by invading other nations.

[squidly]

It would be pretty cool if we had more infantry on skis.

[shhrubbery!]

They haven't been attacked by terrrorist either, yet.

I think someone bombed a Finnish shopping center a few months back, but IIRC the perp turned out to be just another nutty Finn.

[misterrob]

They may invest something in defense but my point was that since our defense budget is so high there is less money to put into socialized programs.....

[finnman69]

I did the jump in the lake thing from our family's island in Finland. Unfortunately iw as too young to bee piss drunk or have a buxom blonde thrash me.

Holy shrinkage Batman!

[Jackson Brown]

Tax rate? How about suicide rate!

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Project to prevent suicide in Finland

The suicide prevention programme carried out by Finland in the 1980s and 90s was the first anywhere to be given nationwide scope. The reason for Finland’s activity in this respect was its suicide mortality rate, long one of the highest in the world. The programme was also a response to the WHO’s call to reverse the upward trend in suicides.

[SNIP]

http://www.stakes.fi/mentalhealth/suicidesu.htm

[finnman69]

My grandfather blasted the crap out of some Ruskie tanks in the Russo-Finnish war. He got 5.

[FreedomFarmer]

All the lovely Fjørds...

[1Old Pro]

And they are not squandering billions of dollars and human lives by invading other nations.

Nope and they aren't contributing a red cent to America for defeating terrorism for them and the rest of the free world thus helping to protect their economy. Besides, they'd be the first to come begging the U.S. if they were every invaded.

[finnman69]

They had a heat wave this summer....sweltering upper 80's up in lake country. As of right now, they have no snow which makes the dark winters extra sucky.

[12B]

In addition to the many comments already about Finland's homogenous and small population, and their lack of any significant burdens from military spending, I just thought I'd point out that they're heavily dependent on one major employer, Nokia.

The day someone comes up with a patented replacement for the average cell phone is the day you can kiss Finland's economy good-bye. Not that that would ever happen in today's fast-paced World mind you.

[1Old Pro]

I'd point out that they're heavily dependent on one major employer, Nokia.

Great tires, or is that tyres?

[finnman69]

othern than Nokia which has been around a while....I have a pair of Nokia boots from when I was a kid, timber/paper products and ship building are Finland's other major industries.

[Tax-chick]

One word...Scrabble!

Well, if the government was giving me $700 a month (!) to raise the kids, as Finland's would ... I could hire someone to raise the kids and do the housework, and just play Scrabble all day! I was, after all state spelling champion of Virginia in 1984! (But would I want to kill myself? - depends on how deep the reindeer plotz is.)

[Eric in the Ozarks]

Mining equipment, drills, etc, too.

[the_devils_advocate_666]

2003 Miss Finland Finalists

The 2003 winner was Anna Stromberg (can you guess which one she is in the above photo?) and she went on to be crowned 2003 Miss Universe.

[beckett]

No mention either of the suicide rate in Finland, which is the highest in the world most years.

In my misspent youth I met a girl from Finland while traveling in Ireland. We talked at length about the widespread disposition of the Finns towards severe depression. The Finnish character, which is highly shared because the population is so homogeneous, and although it is admirable in many ways, is among the most, if not the most, gloomy in all the world.

Nine months of winter will do that to you.

[finnman69]

All right now!

[Tax-chick]

My brother is visiting from England (near Newcastle), and he was complaining about the dark there this time of year ... and Finland is way north of that. Yuck.

[finnman69]

[Semper Paratus]

Inspires me to ice a bottle of Finlandia.