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tex-wyo-dem

(3,190 posts)
82. And the baby and parents in Finland can rest...
Wed Jun 5, 2013, 12:43 AM
Jun 2013

Comfortably at night knowing that not only will they be helped and supported through the child's birth and as an infant, but the baby and his/her parents will have full access to single payer healthcare, the child will attend some of the best public schools in the world and, if the kid wants to and has the aptitude, can complete college all the way to a Master's level 100% on the state. The parents don't have to worry about owning a car due to ample public transportation, bike/walking paths, etc. Homelessness is basically nonexistent and their equivalent of Social Security is not just a safety net against abject poverty, but provides a very comfortable retirement. Working people are afforded some of the most generous vacation time compared to anywhere in the world (most get an entire month off in the summer), which results in a happy and healthy people as well as helps strengthen families.

The down side? They do pay really high taxes, but most were very happy with the arrangement...they get a lot of return on their tax dollars (or I should say, Euros).

How do I know all this? I lived and worked in Finland for almost a year back in the early 2000s and saw this first-hand. When I first arrived in Finland I couldn't help but notice a travel agency on almost every block. I asked one of my Finnish friends why this was and he said that people don't have to save for health insurance or school or retirement, so most save up for vacation to escape the cold

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So, where's all the right to lifers? Le Taz Hot Jun 2013 #1
M wife is involved in an organization that does just that telclaven Jun 2013 #9
My wife helps a group that collects old makeup cases, refurbishes them and lines them with silk... marble falls Jun 2013 #13
My wife is a retired OB RN Mr.Bill Jun 2013 #42
We quilt, too. Quilters are just plain old nice people, if I do say so myself. marble falls Jun 2013 #43
I am helping my wife with a quilt now. Mr.Bill Jun 2013 #44
After you get bagged, you get quilted? The block has to be 'drunkard's path', right? marble falls Jun 2013 #45
Yup, quilters come in all Heathen57 Jun 2013 #63
A big hug of gratitude for your wife and the other volunteers... Contrary1 Jun 2013 #47
Will do. n/t Mr.Bill Jun 2013 #48
Knitters.... AnneD Jun 2013 #56
what a lovely lady!!! Skittles Jun 2013 #59
My niece a former medic army/ er nurse... Historic NY Jun 2013 #65
That is a lovely idea... Contrary1 Jun 2013 #49
Problem is they are really right to birthers. After birth the life has no value to them. Kablooie Jun 2013 #68
When my daughter was born, the hospital gave me a box with baby stuff in it. fasttense Jun 2013 #84
That's awesome. Solly Mack Jun 2013 #2
Now there's a policy that's good to the Finnish! Orrex Jun 2013 #3
DUZY! :-) ReRe Jun 2013 #5
No, no. You're very kind, but I missed an opportunity. Orrex Jun 2013 #11
A DUzy purist, eh? Arugula Latte Jun 2013 #34
k&r Starry Messenger Jun 2013 #4
Now that's cool! ReRe Jun 2013 #6
Nice to know it is like that somewhere in the world............. lunasun Jun 2013 #7
But but but....that is socialism. zeemike Jun 2013 #8
SOCIALISM xtraxritical Jun 2013 #15
... handmade34 Jun 2013 #30
Live with early-to-mid 1980s thinking, get late 1980s results! HughBeaumont Jun 2013 #16
At least when the babies die they die as good capitalists who lived (however briefly) in a system Arugula Latte Jun 2013 #36
Babies SamKnause Jun 2013 #10
"...their own bootie laces." CrispyQ Jun 2013 #57
Sure, I can see that being implemented in US. Or even in UK. Hell will freeze over 10 times first. idwiyo Jun 2013 #12
Bravo to the Finns! nt valerief Jun 2013 #14
It would be a piece of cake to implement this policy in the US.... Jerry442 Jun 2013 #17
Huge K&R! n/t OneGrassRoot Jun 2013 #18
socialist bastards! Pharaoh Jun 2013 #19
... handmade34 Jun 2013 #29
Interesting graph happyslug Jun 2013 #20
"What's all this talk about infant morality? Infants are perfect! They're not immoral!" Common Sense Party Jun 2013 #24
My Finnish wife tells me progressivejazzredux Jun 2013 #21
You have a good point BrotherIvan Jun 2013 #50
What a great post bluedeathray Jun 2013 #22
the article handmade34 Jun 2013 #25
Right on... bluedeathray Jun 2013 #28
handmade34 Diclotican Jun 2013 #23
Add a gun and a Bible to the box, issue at conception, and maybe Republicans would support this. n/t Silent3 Jun 2013 #26
But at birth, take everything else away from the baby except the gun and bible. Ikonoklast Jun 2013 #27
Here's a graph for a whole lotta countries thecrow Jun 2013 #31
interesting... handmade34 Jun 2013 #32
That's amazing with the baby snow suit...neither of my boys ever had a baby snow suit... Tikki Jun 2013 #33
:-) handmade34 Jun 2013 #35
I remember my kids would poop as soon as I got them bundled up. hunter Jun 2013 #39
Could give GD's kittens a run for their money... WorseBeforeBetter Jun 2013 #52
That's what I'm talking about...aaawwww Tikki Jun 2013 #53
You're welcome. WorseBeforeBetter Jun 2013 #62
Ahhhh handmade34 Jun 2013 #75
This would never work in the USA.... cbdo2007 Jun 2013 #37
I imagine the complaints and indictments against such a program in the U.S. would be heavily outnumb LanternWaste Jun 2013 #54
But, but, but........THAT'S COMMUNIST!!!!1!!1!11!!! kestrel91316 Jun 2013 #38
This is really cool! LeftInTX Jun 2013 #40
How utterly civilized. We have a long way to go. nt SunSeeker Jun 2013 #41
"How utterly civilized" handmade34 Jun 2013 #46
But but but, they're stealing from Babies R Us!!! Ilsa Jun 2013 #51
Matthew 6:21 AnneD Jun 2013 #55
A baby sleep in a box? Are you kidding me? CrispyQ Jun 2013 #58
I knew someone else who used a dresser drawer. xmas74 Jun 2013 #64
The right-wingers in the Congress and the Administration will hop all over this indepat Jun 2013 #60
right-wing reaction if they tried that here Enrique Jun 2013 #61
the box contains condoms! bluemarkers Jun 2013 #66
I love this idea. Here's my question, though: Butterbean Jun 2013 #67
Hand them out at hospitals? leftstreet Jun 2013 #69
Good idea. Butterbean Jun 2013 #70
Where does the funding come from for an aircraft carrier? n/t leftstreet Jun 2013 #71
Amen to that. I wonder how much money we could "save" if Butterbean Jun 2013 #72
The USS George HW Bush cost 6.2 billion leftstreet Jun 2013 #73
HOLY SHIT. n/t Butterbean Jun 2013 #74
It can be done LittleBlue Jun 2013 #76
I did not know that about Finland. Thank you, I appreciate the helpful info. Butterbean Jun 2013 #77
Ignore me LittleBlue Jun 2013 #78
LOL, I plead senility at times like this. ;) n/t Butterbean Jun 2013 #89
I thought it was Norway with the oil reserves? n/t eridani Jun 2013 #79
Presumably that means we have 58x as many taxpayers. LeftyMom Jun 2013 #80
MAIL. Duh. See, again, this is why I ask other people. Butterbean Jun 2013 #88
A lot of politically minded folks, when trying... tex-wyo-dem Jun 2013 #81
yes! handmade34 Jun 2013 #85
I would love to do something like this for my community. Butterbean Jun 2013 #87
And the baby and parents in Finland can rest... tex-wyo-dem Jun 2013 #82
unfortunately handmade34 Jun 2013 #86
Congress will say that this hand out will cause staggering deficits... midnight Jun 2013 #83
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