General Discussion
In reply to the discussion: "Why Finnish babies sleep in cardboard boxes" [View all]tex-wyo-dem
(3,190 posts)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