Unconnected dots

Elections in Denmark will be held on the 8th of February, and they have now become a ruling topic in the public debate. Denmark has many strange "leftovers" in their political spectrum, which most other states have shaken off a long time ago. One is the national-socialist Fremskridtsparti, and the two "normal"-socialist parties Socialistisk Folkeparti and Enhedslisten. All-together they account for about 10% of the Danish vote - a remarkable number in the beginning of the 21st century!

The appreciation for socialism has a few negative effects on the debate. For the last two weeks I have heard politicians protest tax-cuts because people just spend their money on trips to other countries and luxury items. This was considered a valid point in a serious debate! Tax-cuts are also protested on the grounds of increasing the income-gap between those who have jobs and those who don't. Seriously! This goes on and on. Danish people swallow these idiotic "arguments" and as a result the whole political spectrum is pulled to the left, with all the damages that does.

Another effect of the appreciation for socialism is a lack of understanding of how an economy in a capitalistic state works. Denmark, like many other countries in Western-Europe, is plagued by high unemployment. The Danish don't understand this. There are plenty of meaningful jobs which have to do be done, right? Yes, but they are not being done for a few reasons. To name a few:

• 'Bistand': Social welfare for those who can't or won't work for some reason, for longer or shorter time.
• 'Dagpenge': Social welfare for those who loose their jobs and (really) can't find another.
• 'Kontanthjælp': Social welfare for those who need money for longer or shorter time. If a person receives 'kontanthjælp' for longer than a certain period of time then a little work is required to "earn" the welfare-check.

The Danish "welfare" system is filled with open treasures for those who can't work, and those who don't feel like working. Also, Denmark taxes companies brutally, and being a member of the European Union, regulates them brutally as well.

But the Danish people don't connect these dots. They don't see why jobs aren't flowing over Denmark. They don't want to hear about any restrictions on social welfare, and all talk about tax-cuts on companies and individuals is blown out of the debate as fast as it comes up. Maybe Denmark needs to hear a little story about a little island in the north which did well in shaking of socialism, unemployment and economic stagnation?