Comments on: Lessons from the North http://www.finlandforthought.net/2005/07/27/lessons-from-the-north/ Politics, current events, culture - From Finland & United States Thu, 21 Aug 2008 18:46:23 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.5.1 By: Pantie thong http://www.finlandforthought.net/2005/07/27/lessons-from-the-north/#comment-203406 Pantie thong Mon, 27 Nov 2006 12:56:13 +0000 /?p=781#comment-203406 Good theme, well, that’s acccurate in my opinion. Thanks. Susie Good theme, well, that’s acccurate in my opinion. Thanks. Susie

]]> By: Home loan http://www.finlandforthought.net/2005/07/27/lessons-from-the-north/#comment-87240 Home loan Wed, 06 Sep 2006 21:03:14 +0000 /?p=781#comment-87240 Good stuff. I’m really excited about this blog. Really great. Looking forward to more. Good stuff. I’m really excited about this blog. Really great. Looking forward to more.

]]> By: Eino-Kalevi http://www.finlandforthought.net/2005/07/27/lessons-from-the-north/#comment-5962 Eino-Kalevi Tue, 02 Aug 2005 17:26:59 +0000 /?p=781#comment-5962 "Sweden had the second highest growth rate in the world from 1890 to 1950, but since the tax rate rose from 20 % in 1950 to 50 % in 1980 we have fallen behind." But the overall progress in Finland has been incredible from 50's to 2000, so it must be that growth sucks and welfare state rules. “Sweden had the second highest growth rate in the world from 1890 to 1950, but since the tax rate rose from 20 % in 1950 to 50 % in 1980 we have fallen behind.”

But the overall progress in Finland has been incredible from 50’s to 2000, so it must be that growth sucks and welfare state rules.

]]> By: Jukka http://www.finlandforthought.net/2005/07/27/lessons-from-the-north/#comment-5830 Jukka Sun, 31 Jul 2005 16:56:48 +0000 /?p=781#comment-5830 Phil thanks for clarifying. Trust me buddy, you most definately don't need to add smileys to your comments to make them funny. Phil thanks for clarifying. Trust me buddy, you most definately don’t need to add smileys to your comments to make them funny.

]]> By: Phil http://www.finlandforthought.net/2005/07/27/lessons-from-the-north/#comment-5825 Phil Sun, 31 Jul 2005 16:04:42 +0000 /?p=781#comment-5825 Eeva - Everyone says San Diego is heaven. The weather is supposedly perfect! I wouldn't know though, I haven't been. Eeva - Everyone says San Diego is heaven. The weather is supposedly perfect! I wouldn’t know though, I haven’t been.

]]> By: Phil http://www.finlandforthought.net/2005/07/27/lessons-from-the-north/#comment-5824 Phil Sun, 31 Jul 2005 16:03:47 +0000 /?p=781#comment-5824 Jukka - did you notice the ;-) after my sentence? That usually means I'm just joking around. :-D Jukka - did you notice the ;-) after my sentence? That usually means I’m just joking around. :-D

]]> By: Eeva http://www.finlandforthought.net/2005/07/27/lessons-from-the-north/#comment-5822 Eeva Sun, 31 Jul 2005 15:54:55 +0000 /?p=781#comment-5822 Actually Phil, we won't be living in SD until next month, and I've never been, but so far we are enjoying Northern California a lot. I'll let you know how it works out, seeing as you're so interested though. Actually Phil, we won’t be living in SD until next month, and I’ve never been, but so far we are enjoying Northern California a lot. I’ll let you know how it works out, seeing as you’re so interested though.

]]> By: Jukka http://www.finlandforthought.net/2005/07/27/lessons-from-the-north/#comment-5817 Jukka Sun, 31 Jul 2005 14:37:20 +0000 /?p=781#comment-5817 "Just add Luxembourg and San Diego to that list and I???m sure Jukka would be fine with it then. " Phil, there you go presuming again. It's a nasty habit, you shouldn't so much of it. It's bound to get you in trouble. San Diego? Never been there so wouldn't know. Luxembourg? I've only lived here for less then 4 months. It'd be presumptious of me to make such a broad statement based on my lack of knowledge in this country. I'll leave the mistaken presumptions to you, it's your speciality ;) “Just add Luxembourg and San Diego to that list and I???m sure Jukka would be fine with it then. ”

Phil, there you go presuming again. It’s a nasty habit, you shouldn’t so much of it. It’s bound to get you in trouble.

San Diego? Never been there so wouldn’t know.

Luxembourg? I’ve only lived here for less then 4 months. It’d be presumptious of me to make such a broad statement based on my lack of knowledge in this country. I’ll leave the mistaken presumptions to you, it’s your speciality ;)

]]> By: Thomas http://www.finlandforthought.net/2005/07/27/lessons-from-the-north/#comment-5814 Thomas Sun, 31 Jul 2005 11:41:59 +0000 /?p=781#comment-5814 Irene Adler: "It???s been my humble experience that the tendancy is much more over-represented on the European side. Europeans seem to have a deep-seated nuerotic need to believe that most Americans are living in ???hell.??" What do you base your claim on? "I have seen newly come Europeans stare at the endless rows of houses with three-car garages in my neighborhood like Third Worlders seeing a flush toilet for the first time." Three-car garages? Who would be idiotic enough to waste space on THREE-CAR GARAGES? An american, sure! But Europeans. The "newly come Europeans" were from where? Albania? Irene Adler:

“It???s been my humble experience that the tendancy is much more over-represented on the European side. Europeans seem to have a deep-seated nuerotic need to believe that most Americans are living in ???hell.??”

What do you base your claim on?

“I have seen newly come Europeans stare at the endless rows of houses with three-car garages in my neighborhood like Third Worlders seeing a flush toilet for the first time.”

Three-car garages? Who would be idiotic enough to waste space on THREE-CAR GARAGES? An american, sure! But Europeans. The “newly come Europeans” were from where? Albania?

]]> By: Phil http://www.finlandforthought.net/2005/07/27/lessons-from-the-north/#comment-5768 Phil Sat, 30 Jul 2005 13:27:34 +0000 /?p=781#comment-5768 One persons "essential living expenses" are different from anothers. That big house with the two SUVs parked in the garage are "essential" for many. One persons “essential living expenses” are different from anothers. That big house with the two SUVs parked in the garage are “essential” for many.

]]> By: tim73 http://www.finlandforthought.net/2005/07/27/lessons-from-the-north/#comment-5766 tim73 Sat, 30 Jul 2005 12:31:27 +0000 /?p=781#comment-5766 Phil: "So I???m sure there???s some Americans in that survey that make 50K/year and don???t have money at the end of the month cause they live in a fancy neighborhood, drive a fancy car, eat out almost every day, have a big screen TV" Read again: "essential living expenses". "Once you have covered your essential living expenses, which of the following statements best describes how you normally spend your spare cash? May 2005 Pay off debts, credit cards, loans 37% I have no spare cash 28% Savings 23% Home improvements, decorating 21% Out of home entertainment 21%" Phil: “So I???m sure there???s some Americans in that survey that make 50K/year and don???t have money at the end of the month cause they live in a fancy neighborhood, drive a fancy car, eat out almost every day, have a big screen TV”

Read again: “essential living expenses”.

“Once you have covered your essential living expenses, which of the following statements best describes how you normally spend your spare cash?

May 2005
Pay off debts, credit cards, loans 37%
I have no spare cash 28%
Savings 23%
Home improvements, decorating 21%
Out of home entertainment 21%”

]]> By: Erik http://www.finlandforthought.net/2005/07/27/lessons-from-the-north/#comment-5764 Erik Sat, 30 Jul 2005 10:31:58 +0000 /?p=781#comment-5764 <i>That seems to be the biggest complaint from foreigners is that their paycheck is gone by the end of the month.</i> Well, Nokia is notorious for it's low wages. That seems to be the biggest complaint from foreigners is that their paycheck is gone by the end of the month.

Well, Nokia is notorious for it’s low wages.

]]> By: Erik http://www.finlandforthought.net/2005/07/27/lessons-from-the-north/#comment-5763 Erik Sat, 30 Jul 2005 10:29:06 +0000 /?p=781#comment-5763 Well, Irene, it's humble experience against humble experience then. My experience is that many Americans "know" the darndest things about Europe. And, yes, I used to live over there and I have seen the three-car garages, the super-duper flushing toilets, and also the trailer-park-three-McJobs-per-day people living in terrible deprivation. Well, Irene, it’s humble experience against humble experience then. My experience is that many Americans “know” the darndest things about Europe. And, yes, I used to live over there and I have seen the three-car garages, the super-duper flushing toilets, and also the trailer-park-three-McJobs-per-day people living in terrible deprivation.

]]> By: Phil http://www.finlandforthought.net/2005/07/27/lessons-from-the-north/#comment-5762 Phil Sat, 30 Jul 2005 10:07:46 +0000 /?p=781#comment-5762 <i>???The U.S. is number one when it comes to the percentage of the population that claims to ???have no spare cash,?? according to a new ACNielsen survey of consumers in 38 markets. More than one-quarter (28%) of U.S. respondents said once they have covered their essential living expenses they have no money left over??</i> Heh, that's how I feel after living in Finland for almost three years. That seems to be the biggest complaint from foreigners is that their paycheck is gone by the end of the month. But about the U.S. - Americans spend like crazy, Finns are much more frugal with their money. So I'm sure there's some Americans in that survey that make 50K/year and don't have money at the end of the month cause they live in a fancy neighborhood, drive a fancy car, eat out almost every day, have a big screen TV etc... ???The U.S. is number one when it comes to the percentage of the population that claims to ???have no spare cash,?? according to a new ACNielsen survey of consumers in 38 markets. More than one-quarter (28%) of U.S. respondents said once they have covered their essential living expenses they have no money left over??

Heh, that’s how I feel after living in Finland for almost three years. That seems to be the biggest complaint from foreigners is that their paycheck is gone by the end of the month.

But about the U.S. - Americans spend like crazy, Finns are much more frugal with their money. So I’m sure there’s some Americans in that survey that make 50K/year and don’t have money at the end of the month cause they live in a fancy neighborhood, drive a fancy car, eat out almost every day, have a big screen TV etc…

]]> By: Phil http://www.finlandforthought.net/2005/07/27/lessons-from-the-north/#comment-5761 Phil Sat, 30 Jul 2005 10:05:05 +0000 /?p=781#comment-5761 <i>Americans of course never, ever, tell Europeans how they (ie the Europeans) are living.</i> Heh, I don't think too many Americans even know how Europeans live in the first place. And I don't think Europeans know either, too often they just believe the biases that's printed in their local newspapers about the U.S. Americans of course never, ever, tell Europeans how they (ie the Europeans) are living.

Heh, I don’t think too many Americans even know how Europeans live in the first place. And I don’t think Europeans know either, too often they just believe the biases that’s printed in their local newspapers about the U.S.

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