FAMILY LAW DAILY NEWS

The taxes that assist the Danes obtain happiness and societal success

Columnist Justice B. Hill enjoyed his visit to Copenhagen (”What we might learn from those happy Danes,” Sept. 30), and we were in Denmark last week, too. The Danes are a happy bunch, despite Shakespeare’s cliché. Obviously, there are huge demographic and cultural differences between Americans and the Danish, but there are significant lessons to be learned from what may be the happiest place on earth.

Yes, taxes are ludicrous; the average tax rate on Danes is 45%. But think about what they get for their money — free college, universal health care, and child support for every family with children. They are no. 1 in “Climate Change Performance” and workers’ rights. Only 6% live below the poverty line, about half the US rate. Wind turbines and solar provide 50% of electric power (how many years has it taken Cleveland’s LEEDCo project to put six lousy turbines in Lake Erie??). The air and water are clean, the beer is good (perhaps not quite as good as our Cleveland beer), and they have a wonderful amusement park right in downtown Copenhagen. Instead of incessant tax-cutting, perhaps Americans would be happier paying a higher rate and getting a lot more in return.

steve roberts,

Cleveland

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