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A comment on Philip Greenspun's Economy Recovery Plan. Parent comment

Re:Philip Greenspun's Economy Recovery Plan by mixmax on Friday January 02, 2009 @08:48PM (#418012)
Yes that is the contradiction - an apparently great educational system paid for by taxes that are so high that the smart and successful Danes leave the country and make their money elsewhere in order not to pay the high taxes.
[ Parent | on HN ]
Re:Philip Greenspun's Economy Recovery Plan by pelle on Friday January 02, 2009 @10:53PM (#418088)
This is a common argument heard in Denmark to make us the Danes who left feel bad.

While not as bad now, there was a time when the word "udenlandsdansker" (Danish emigrant) was synonymous with traitor when used by Danish politicians.

The way I look at it is that my parents paid 70% taxes when I was going through the educational system, so I could go through the educational system. I have also paid plenty of Danish taxes myself to put other peoples children through school.

While I have great love for my country, I am not indebted nor indentured to it.

We already went through a period in Danish history http://da.wikipedia.org/wiki/Stavnsbånd (in Danish) where men between 18 and 36 were forced to stay and work for the local land owner.

I do not think there is a need through law, guilt or propaganda to enforce a new version of this indentureship.

There are many reasons to stay in Denmark, but there are also plenty of good reasons for entrepreneurs and other over achievers to leave:

http://stakeventures.com/articles/2007/07/01/silicon-vikings...

[ Parent | on HN ]
Re:Philip Greenspun's Economy Recovery Plan by mixmax on Friday January 02, 2009 @11:21PM (#418106)
This is a common argument heard in Denmark to make us the Danes who left feel bad. it wasn't meant that way, just pointing out the bad politics of not letting people reap the rewards of what they sow.

I'm thinking of moving away myself, if it wasn't for the good friends and beautiful girls I would have gone already.

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Re:Philip Greenspun's Economy Recovery Plan by pelle on Friday January 02, 2009 @11:47PM (#418124)
Guess I misunderstood ;-)

Just heard the argument I thought I heard so many times before.

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Re:Philip Greenspun's Economy Recovery Plan by mixmax on Friday January 02, 2009 @11:54PM (#418128)
No worries, just wanted to clear it up since I've heard the argument endless times too.

And I hate whiners...

Btw. are you ever in Copenhagen?

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Re:Philip Greenspun's Economy Recovery Plan by gaius on Saturday January 03, 2009 @04:03AM (#418261)
It is not tho' - those taxes pay for a lot of other things, such as perfectly capable people not working. We have the same problem in the UK.

Solution: NO welfare AT ALL to anyone who doesn't complete their education. And backdate it to the 70s.

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