Which Country has the best quality of life

[smirkymonkey]

for someone with liberal/democratic values?? And why??

Would especially like to hear from those who have lived elsewhere and how it compares to the US.

[EstimatedProphet]

1. The Netherlands is nice for Progressives

I say that because people have truly adopted an attitude of "I don't care what you do, and so long as it doesn't affect me I will support your right to do it". Amsterdam is a very comfortable city in that regard.

[DemExpat]

11. Agreed! Progressives are very comfortable here

I don't know if I would say that it has the best quality of life, but it definitely is one of the finest (little) countries on earth IMHO.

Sexuality is truly not an issue at all here - compared to the US. Entertainers, tv personalities, singers and performers, comedians, politicians etc. can all be openly gay here. Quite amazing, actually, compared to other countries!

:kick:

DemEx

[Jack_Dawson]

2. Sweden

If you don't mind forking over 80% of your paycheck. Damn liberals.

[Deja Q]

7. Hah! Many Americans ned 2 jobs, 90-100% of the net income going...

toward basic necessities (rent, food, clothing, bus/car/whatever). They get no healthcare... we all know the American story.

I'd gladly exchange 80% of my paycheck for universal health care amongst other aspects of civilization...

[La Lioness Priyanka]

8. 80 % is ok

so long as I never have to see homeless people again...just breaks my heart!...though the cold frightens me

[ikojo]

12. While people in Sweden do pay higher taxes

they also receive many services for those taxes. Things such as college education and health care that Americans must try to find the money for are provided by the government. Of course conservative Dems and Republicans call that a nanny state.

I say that if corporations and the wealthy can have a nanny state then why can't working people?

[populistmom]

18. I'm curious about the actual percentage for the average income in Sweden?

Anyone know?
We pay a substantial amount of taxes in this country and half (what we know of anyway) of the federal budget is related to military spending. Imagine all the benefits WE could have right here with what we pay in taxes if if corporations paid there fair share and there wasn't so much unsubstantiated military spending?

[Kamika]

3. hmm maybe countries like Monaco

Luxembourg etc.


Small small countries

[Kathy in Cambridge]

4. Scandanavian Countries, The Netherlands, Belgium, France,

and arguably Italy.

[boobooday]

5. I've never been anywhere

But I heard Costa Rica was nice and progressive.

Bueno!

http://www.wgoeshome.com

[Exgeneral]

6. I was just going to say Costa Rica

they have national healthcare. It's cheap to live. And the government is basically a composition of several rich families dueling for power and wealth, just like here.

[MercutioATC]

13. It's amazing what you can do when you have no military, isn't it?

No military to fund makes it a lot easier to provide social services...

[carolinayellowdog]

9. Canada, Australia, New Zealand

along with the others already mentioned

[Lost in GA]

10. Canada or Ireland

If you're far left and love to party, probably Montreal or Dublin. Sweden is nice, but they are notoriously boring until they're drunk, and ETOH is very very expensive. And you have to be blond and white..not even brown hair, they are very homogenous.
Leftie or not, for the sheer joy of seeing beautiful girls ride their bikes in miniskirts, every day, all summer long...Sverige, baby.

[Screaming Lord Byron]

14. I think Vancouver or Toronto would be equally lefty.

Maybe Vancouver the most?

[Lost in GA]

15. Maybe

Haven't been, but have heard good things about Vancouver. Toronto seemed so much like America, but this is based on 2-3 visits, no real living experience.

[populistmom]

19. Hey

As a blond woman of Swedish ancestry who is notoriously boring until I am drunk, I resent that remark! :P

[ConcernedCanuk]

16. I'd have to agree with those that suggest the Netherlands or the like

.
.
.

I'm getting a wee bit worried about our "neighbor" . .

I sort of like the idea of Australia or New Zealand, but isn't the USA trying to get missile bases there ? Don't they have some military bases in Australia already ?

I'd sort of like to be somewhere that is not a target, and I sorta think that anyone that has close ties with the USA, especially militarily will be acceptable targets in the near future . .

This is why talks of Canada having anything to do with either land-based missiles run by the USA, or space-based sh_t have me doubtful as to Canada being a safe place to be anymore . .

(sigh)

[YNGW]

17. China

Fun for all.

[youngred]

20. After Seven Straight Years, Canada took a drop

http://www.cbc.ca/stories/2003/07/04/canada_un030704

Canada, Sweeden, Canada, Netherlands, Canada, Belgium, Canada.

[Screaming Lord Byron]

21. Yeah, and the one reason for that? Don Cherry.

Even the suits alone could cause an international incident.

[slack]

22. with or without money?

big difference.