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Monday, July 06, 2026

Do you know how to get an American company to grant you excellent wages and amazing benefits, even for an entry-level job? Move to Norway and take the job there.

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Kristof's weekend column is a long at how the Nordic countries achieved economic success (Norway has higher per capita income than the US and also enjoys higher productivity), relative equality and some of the highest levels of happiness in the world. But the American right savages Scandinavia's

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-- Scott Horton (@robertscotthorton.bsky.social) 10:50 AM · Jul 5, 2026

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More from the OpEd...

... Construction workers, hotel maids, gas station attendants and store cashiers will typically earn more than $20 an hour plus evening or weekend bonuses, about five weeks' paid vacation each year, a pension, maternity and paternity leave that add up to a year and paid leave when a child is sick. You may even get paid time off if you move homes.

Those are broadly the terms for Norwegian and foreign companies alike, including the likes of 7-Eleven shops, Burger King restaurants and ExxonMobil-affiliated gas stations. Which raises the question: If American and other international firms can offer such munificent terms for retail jobs in Norway, could they do so in our country?

We'll get to that, but what unfolds here is a result of the Nordic social and economic model, which aims to reduce inequality, boost opportunity and optimize the quality of life -- providing a lift, in particular, for those at the lower end of the income scale.

What we tend to think of as "low wage" jobs aren't truly low-earning in Norway, and they also come with state-provided health care and child care, plus strong unions that ensure that layoffs or firings are rare.

You want security, health care and the American dream? Look to Scandinavia. ...



#1 | Posted by LampLighter at 2026-07-05 07:15 PM | Reply

"We actually live the American dream," Jens Stoltenberg, a former prime minister of Norway who is now the finance minister, told me.

"The American dream, it's more reality in the Nordic countries than in America."

"The U.S. in the mid-20th century was sort of like Scandinavia today," Katz said. But America changed course in the 1970s and eventually embraced the Reagan revolution."

excerpts, article is a good read

There's also quite a few articles about how Norway is business friendly; here's one now:

"Norway ranks among the top countries in the world for competitiveness. The country's egalitarian culture and the trust between employers and employees strengthen innovation processes and lead to greater efficiency.

In addition, close cooperation between the government, industry confederations, and labor unions creates stability and low conflict levels in the labor market."

blog.aiderlegal.com

This whole idea from Reaganism on that we can't have Happy People and Happy Business at the same time is HORSE MANURE made up by the Corporate Class.

#2 | Posted by Corky at 2026-07-05 08:35 PM | Reply

They do have a lot of Suicides.

More than a lot of "Unhappy" Countries.

What Gives?

#3 | Posted by Effeteposer at 2026-07-05 08:43 PM | Reply

What Gives?

Alcohol.

#4 | Posted by REDIAL at 2026-07-05 08:45 PM | Reply

They're just trying to stay warm!

The point remains that they have a system that benefits the People and the Corporations both.

As do several other Scandinavian countries.

#5 | Posted by Corky at 2026-07-05 08:49 PM | Reply

Suicide Rate by Country 2026
worldpopulationreview.com

... 10 Countries with the Lowest Suicide Rates (per 100k)

Perhaps surprisingly, many of the most troubled nations in the world have comparatively low suicide rates. Afghanistan has 4.1 suicides per 100k; Iraq has 3.6, and Syria has just 2.0. It is not clear if the suicide statistics for these countries reflect suicides committed due to mental health problems and terminal illnesses (which are the primary reasons for suicide in most of the world) or include suicides committed as part of the ongoing conflicts in these countries. ...

Suicide in Sweden

In 2019, Sweden had 14.7 suicides per 100,000 people. Historically, Sweden has had a high suicide rate, with the most suicides in the developed world during the 1960s. That may have been due, at least in part, to cultural attitudes regarding suicide and long, dark winters, particularly in the northern regions. The government responded to the crisis with social welfare and mental health services, and the numbers have dropped dramatically. Today, Scandinavian countries " Norway, Sweden, Denmark, and Finland -- have very high happiness rates and relatively low suicide rates. However, the dark winters -- 20 hours of darkness or more in each day in some areas " causes seasonal affective disorder (SAD), a form of depression, which has been known to correlate with higher rates of suicide. ...

Country - Suicide rate per 100k

Greenland - 75.57
Suriname - 28.69
South Korea - 28.13
Guyana - 25.36
Lithuania - 24.76
Russia - 24.28
Uruguay - 22.49
Japan - 21.46
Ukraine - 21.28
Cuba - 21.13
...
Norway - 11.11

...

#6 | Posted by LampLighter at 2026-07-05 08:55 PM | Reply

@#4 ... Alcohol. ...

And the long, so long, winter nights ...

#7 | Posted by LampLighter at 2026-07-05 08:55 PM | Reply

They're just trying to stay warm!

Old joke:

A Finlander and a Brit meet in a pub for drinks.

The first round comes, and the Brit raises his glass and says "Cheers!". They drink their drinks.

The second round comes, and again the Brit raises his glass and says "Cheers!". They drink their drinks.

The third round comes, and once more the Brit raises his glass and says "Cheers!".

The Finlander looks at him and says, "Are you here to drink, or are you here to talk?".

#8 | Posted by REDIAL at 2026-07-05 08:55 PM | Reply | Funny: 2

Happiest Countries in the World 2026
worldpopulationreview.com

...

Finland - 7.74
Denmark - 7.52
Iceland - 7.52
Sweden - 7.35
Netherlands - 7.31
Costa Rica - 7.27
Norway - 7.26

...

Top-ranked countries tend to combine strong social support systems, higher income levels, longer life expectancy, and greater personal freedom, all of which are associated with higher overall happiness scores. ...


#9 | Posted by LampLighter at 2026-07-05 09:02 PM | Reply

"Pura vida"!

puravidaadventures.com

#10 | Posted by Corky at 2026-07-05 09:12 PM | Reply

op-ranked countries tend to combine strong social support systems, higher income levels, longer life expectancy, and greater personal freedom, all of which are associated with higher overall happiness scores. .

And from the list you presented .... a Small population

#11 | Posted by oneironaut at 2026-07-05 09:59 PM | Reply

The point remains that they have a system that benefits the People and the Corporations both.

They have natural resources that support the system. There's also a reason Nordic countries are now turning against immigration.

A paradigm shift in Sweden, a U-turn in Norway, and business as usual in Denmark " this is how migration expert Kristian Tronstad describes the changes in Nordic immigration and integration policy following Russia's full-scale invasion of Ukraine.

Overall, the Nordic integration policy has become more restrictive, selective, and temporary.
nordicwelfare.org

#12 | Posted by oneironaut at 2026-07-05 10:01 PM | Reply

#12

Weak sauce from weak minds. They are dealing with climate change migration as are all northern countries...and they have no more natural resources than we do.

You might as well just go ahead and join the Trump Cult for all the simping you do for them.

#13 | Posted by Corky at 2026-07-05 10:25 PM | Reply

#12

Jeff the cowardly midget

#14 | Posted by LegallyYourDead at 2026-07-05 10:31 PM | Reply

They're HAPPY?!!

F THAT! No democratic socialism for me! I enjoy being a grumpy, unhappy retiree, thank you.

- BUSHLOVERSHRIMPTACODAN

#15 | Posted by AMERICANUNITY at 2026-07-06 01:14 AM | Reply

What Gives?

Alcohol.

#4 | Posted by REDIAL

And good lookin' bikini teams!

#16 | Posted by AMERICANUNITY at 2026-07-06 01:18 AM | Reply

"The American dream, it's more reality in the Nordic countries than in America."

Yup. I'm moving to Europe at the end of the month because it's a better deal there for me.

Sure, regulations and taxes are higher but I've done the math and it still works out in my favor while giving me more time with my family and, most likely, more money to do things with them.

For the vast majority of people, the American dream in the US is dead. One has to be particularly gifted or a f*&^ing sociopath to really boost themselves in America these days.

#17 | Posted by jpw at 2026-07-06 01:22 AM | Reply

" Yup. I'm moving to Europe at the end of the month"

Good. Hopefully you never come back.

#18 | Posted by BellRinger at 2026-07-06 03:59 AM | Reply

Always nice to hear a story about Norwegian exceptionalism.

Current American exceptionalism means ignoring what makes other places exceptional.

There's false pride, and then there's healthy pride.

False pride goes nowhere.

#19 | Posted by Zed at 2026-07-06 07:47 AM | Reply

"And the long, so long, winter nights ..."

Norway is by far the most conservative county I've been to, outside of the Gulf states. Alcohol is expensive and not readily available.

The long winter nights are offset by the long summer days.

The weather is what drives me crazy. If it weren't for the year-round rain and sleet, I might have moved there already.

#20 | Posted by madbomber at 2026-07-06 09:19 AM | Reply

"Yup. I'm moving to Europe at the end of the month because it's a better deal there for me."

Where to?

I think you're going to like it.

A suggestion, if you have time, check out Albania before the summer ends. Karaburun. Best beaches on this planet.

#21 | Posted by madbomber at 2026-07-06 09:20 AM | Reply

It's probably also worth mentioning that the Norwegians are crazy bad-asses. They literally start their day with a morning swim. In the Arctic Circle. In the middle of winter.

It's probably why the conquered much of the world.

#22 | Posted by madbomber at 2026-07-06 09:22 AM | Reply

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