The idea of the welfare state is so popular around here that even the rightest of the right can't really criticize it much.

Almost all economic reforms are done "to save the welfare state". Especially reforms that slowly dismantle it.

Danes, Norwegians*, Swedes, and Finns will have the opinions that their governments tell them to have. Pretty much everywhere in the world and at any year of history, the average citizen will say that his government/president/king/warlord/chairman/pope is the best that has ever been. So "popular opinion" doesn't mean much.

Nowadays it's mostly commercial outlets and interests that tell us what opinions to have.