This made me laugh

[scooterscot]

http://www.timesonline.co.uk/tol/com...cle4542452.ece

"As I watched these Nordic gods, with their equally muscular currency, jog around the Djurgarden I wondered: “Why is your standard of living so superior when we work the longest hours in Europe and your shops all shut at 6pm?”

Reminds me of my time in Norway - perhaps if Brits exercised as much we'd feel happier too, happier about going to work while being more productive at the same time for less hours. Could not stay they're in the winter though...

[Turion]

http://www.timesonline.co.uk/tol/com...cle4542452.ece

"As I watched these Nordic gods, with their equally muscular currency, jog around the Djurgarden I wondered: “Why is your standard of living so superior when we work the longest hours in Europe and your shops all shut at 6pm?”

Reminds me of my time in Norway - perhaps if Brits exercised as much we'd feel happier too, happier about going to work while being more productive at the same time for less hours. Could not stay they're in the winter though...

The higher standard of living only applies to the unemployed and those in 'social need'. This is paid for by penal taxes and madly inflated prices for everything especially booze, cars and pizzas!

As for this god like thing, maybe that is in the capital as the best and richest people in any country tend to congregate, but go to any provincial city like Stavanger and you'll find plenty of slobs and slappers just like in provincial UK.

[scooterscot]

The higher standard of living only applies to the unemployed and those in 'social need'. This is paid for by penal taxes and madly inflated prices for everything especially booze, cars and pizzas!

As for this god like thing, maybe that is in the capital as the best and richest people in any country tend to congregate, but go to any provincial city like Stavanger and you'll find plenty of slobs and slappers just like in provincial UK.

I was in Stavanager last year and like many of the towns along Norway's coast, the people enjoy a higher standard of living than what we might be used to in the UK.

But I don't agree that those standards only belong to the unemployed, I don't even believe it is anything particularly to do with the state, I'm more inclined to believe that it is the people that make it what it is. They all seem so positive and outgoing moaning still featured but not as much as you'd get in the UK and yet we're no were near taxed as much.

I think for me what made the biggest difference was the feeling of space Britain would need to be the size of Oz to get that same feeling. We're cramming to the point of bursting here it is no wonder we're struggling.

[TimberWolf]

I think for me what made the biggest difference was the feeling of space Britain would need to be the size of Oz to get that same feeling. We're cramming to the point of bursting here it is no wonder we're struggling.

Population of United states: 300 Million. Population of United Kingdom: 100 Million (no one knows for sure any more, so estimated upwards). Let's import lots and lots more people, you know it makes sense. Boomed.

[NotAllThere]

Switzerland has a high standard of living, and reasonable tax rates. The article made me laugh too - I'm paid in Swiss Francs.

[pisces]

Stavanger Twinned With Harlow.

Now that made me laugh