It's been over a year since I last added anything to this blog, and the main reason for that is that I no longer live in Denmark...wooohooo...all the shopping I do on Amazon and ebay right now!
Anyhow, I was shocked to learn that one of my all-time favourite websites, Book Depository, no longer does the free shipping and UK prices on books to Denmark. In fact, they no longer post to Denmark full stop, which is a real pity. I can only guess, with 99.999% certainty, that some pedantic Danish c*** (c being for customs officer, of course) spotted the budding cross-border EU trade that was developing, and found some obscure law to stop it, or at least make things so awkward for Book Depository that they've decided it isn't worth bothering selling to Denmark any more. Note that Book Depository stills ships to EVERY OTHER EU member country, including Sweden, and non-EU scandinavian reknowned high tax regimes such as Norway and Iceland.
Hang on a sec...wasn't free border trade what we were sold on the EU about in the first place? Hmmmm............
I won't bore you again with my views on excessive socialism, high taxes and the nanny state either. In this case, the evidence is so clear it isn't even worth repeating.
Tuesday, June 9, 2009
Friday, September 5, 2008
Carrying two Danes on your shoulders
There seems to be some confusion over my complaints about Denmark. Firstly, everyone I worked with (aside from Ken Primby of course), was fair, honest and hard-working. In fact, you have to have a high work ethic because every worker in Denmark carries at least two lazy, useless Danes on their shoulders, through the high taxes they pay. Even worse is that it means you have very little left for the people who actually matter in your life, which in my case is my wife and our four children.
So there you go, just in case anyone I ever worked with reads this!
So there you go, just in case anyone I ever worked with reads this!
Saturday, August 30, 2008
Roskilde Bank Nationalised...and "Social Duty" in Denmark
As Denmark is now officially the most-personally-indebted nation in the entire world on the basis of debt versus disposable income, at 260%, it's no surprise that they are suffering under the credit crunch. Following on from what happened with the Northern Rock in the UK, Denmark's Roskilde bank went into administration and, taking similar mistaken steps to the UK government, it has been nationalised. What I found most amusing were the Danish central bank governor, Nils Bernsteins' comments about how the "bank was not fit to survive", "shareholders getting no compensation" and finally, how the bank "abused the credit system for breakneck growth without proper regard for social duty".
Well, of course, I agree shareholders of ailing businesses should never be compensated for their risk when things turn bad, just as they should not be taxed when things go well. The major comment of note, and a major insight into the Danish mentality, is the comment on how the bank didn't have proper regard for social duty. Okay, I run my own business, so should I have any regard for "social duty", or do I run the business to make as much profit as I can within the law?
Perhaps Mr Bernstein needs to look in the mirror and question if the Danish central bank and government has been neglecting it's own social duty. In the opinion of old-school economists, the main role of a central bank is to "maintain a strong and sound trusted currency for the citizens of the nation, backed by real assets, for the conduct of trade", and taking that into account, the Danish central bank and government fail, with their ludicrous tax reliefs on any personal loan taken out and the consequent flood of paper money created out of nothing these past ten years or so. The national currency is not something you should play with to win votes or induce a temporary boom.
Well, of course, I agree shareholders of ailing businesses should never be compensated for their risk when things turn bad, just as they should not be taxed when things go well. The major comment of note, and a major insight into the Danish mentality, is the comment on how the bank didn't have proper regard for social duty. Okay, I run my own business, so should I have any regard for "social duty", or do I run the business to make as much profit as I can within the law?
Perhaps Mr Bernstein needs to look in the mirror and question if the Danish central bank and government has been neglecting it's own social duty. In the opinion of old-school economists, the main role of a central bank is to "maintain a strong and sound trusted currency for the citizens of the nation, backed by real assets, for the conduct of trade", and taking that into account, the Danish central bank and government fail, with their ludicrous tax reliefs on any personal loan taken out and the consequent flood of paper money created out of nothing these past ten years or so. The national currency is not something you should play with to win votes or induce a temporary boom.
Monday, August 25, 2008
Denmark...Happiest Nation in the world again...Well, I'm laughing anyway.....
Yet again, the BBC nee "British Brainwashing Corporation", feeds us more tales of Denmark being the happiest nation in the world. Well, I cannot think of a worse place to work than Denmark, and unlike these closet communists, I tried for 3 years for my Danish partner's sake.
Can anyone enjoy knowing that over 50% of your pay doesn't even make it as far as your pocket, but goes to fund the benefits of the lazy majority, so they can continue living in the employment-free style to which they've become accustomed. Conversely, this makes it a fantastic place for those to live who are not interested in working, although the Danish state has a myriad of rules to ensure non-Danes cannot claim any benefits or even come to live in Denmark unless they have a load of cash in the bank. This does not fit in with the supposed EU free movement regulations, but since Denmark is so small and irrelevant, the EU doesn't really care.
In Denmark, what is the point in trying harder? Everyone just tries to drag you back down to their own mediocre standards of starting at 8.30 and leaving around 3pm. People were honestly stunned I stayed until 5pm. If anyone is in any doubt about the Danish workplace, look up "Jantelov".
Woe betide anyone completely qualified in their chosen profession, but not actually having Danish qualifications. This little known xenophobic attitude pervades most of the heavily-unionised professions such as teaching and healthcare.
As for the much quoted "Denmark - happiest nation in the world..." waffle, you need to understand that the place is so extreme, anyone motivated and with a bit of "get up and go", does exactly that and gets up and goes to a different country. With over 50% of the remainder on some form of welfare payment or other, who wouldn't be happy about getting something for nothing?
Unsurprisingly, they have major shortfalls in skilled workers in IT, doctors, engineers, etc. I wonder why. I'd recommend anyone gives it a try though. It's a bit like that film Mr destiny, where you think the grass could be greener but then you realise how much worse life can get!
Can anyone enjoy knowing that over 50% of your pay doesn't even make it as far as your pocket, but goes to fund the benefits of the lazy majority, so they can continue living in the employment-free style to which they've become accustomed. Conversely, this makes it a fantastic place for those to live who are not interested in working, although the Danish state has a myriad of rules to ensure non-Danes cannot claim any benefits or even come to live in Denmark unless they have a load of cash in the bank. This does not fit in with the supposed EU free movement regulations, but since Denmark is so small and irrelevant, the EU doesn't really care.
In Denmark, what is the point in trying harder? Everyone just tries to drag you back down to their own mediocre standards of starting at 8.30 and leaving around 3pm. People were honestly stunned I stayed until 5pm. If anyone is in any doubt about the Danish workplace, look up "Jantelov".
Woe betide anyone completely qualified in their chosen profession, but not actually having Danish qualifications. This little known xenophobic attitude pervades most of the heavily-unionised professions such as teaching and healthcare.
As for the much quoted "Denmark - happiest nation in the world..." waffle, you need to understand that the place is so extreme, anyone motivated and with a bit of "get up and go", does exactly that and gets up and goes to a different country. With over 50% of the remainder on some form of welfare payment or other, who wouldn't be happy about getting something for nothing?
Unsurprisingly, they have major shortfalls in skilled workers in IT, doctors, engineers, etc. I wonder why. I'd recommend anyone gives it a try though. It's a bit like that film Mr destiny, where you think the grass could be greener but then you realise how much worse life can get!
Saturday, July 19, 2008
Useless Danes Named and Shamed
Following the famous 80:20 rule, I expect generally that any country I go to, I'll find 80% of people to be generally helpful, friendly and law-abiding, while 20% might be rude, unpleasant, criminal or generally otherwise best avoided.
During my time in Denmark, however, I found the reverse applied. Probably only about 20% fitted into the first category, while it often seemed like 80% were rude, unpleasant, disrepectful and criminal. The last category, the criminal one, is what amazed me most, beginning with the huge chunk of people who think it's OK to feign illness or an inability to work, so they can claim huge chunks of government benefits and other various freebies, right through to the builder, Ole Grønlund, who made an appalling job of restoring our house, before failing to return to finish the job, Morten Høgenhav, the worst bunch of cowboy painters even seen, and the children who stole our childrens' toys from our own garden, then proceeded to treat our garden as a playground for 2 weeks, destroying yet more, unstopped by the various adults who must have witnessed it, probably including their own, useless, benefit-claiming parents.
Next, a dishonourable mention must go to Ken Lynge Primby and his Connect Resourcing/Recruitment Agency. Ken has a nasty and previously proven habit of accidentally letting his business fall into liquidation once every few years, leaving the debts (like mine) with the unfortunate encumbents, while a new Connect rises like a phoenix from the ashes. It's now looking like I'm only going to get a few percent of what I'm owed.
Finally, who could forget the biggest thieves of all, the Danish government. Who through various taxes end up helping themselves to approximiately 70% of your income and a huge chunk of your savings.
Needless to say, if I ever see a Dane in distress, they can expect little help from me. And if any of the above should step out onto the road, not seeing the huge lorry chundering towards them, I can only hope I'm there to see the moment of impact.
During my time in Denmark, however, I found the reverse applied. Probably only about 20% fitted into the first category, while it often seemed like 80% were rude, unpleasant, disrepectful and criminal. The last category, the criminal one, is what amazed me most, beginning with the huge chunk of people who think it's OK to feign illness or an inability to work, so they can claim huge chunks of government benefits and other various freebies, right through to the builder, Ole Grønlund, who made an appalling job of restoring our house, before failing to return to finish the job, Morten Høgenhav, the worst bunch of cowboy painters even seen, and the children who stole our childrens' toys from our own garden, then proceeded to treat our garden as a playground for 2 weeks, destroying yet more, unstopped by the various adults who must have witnessed it, probably including their own, useless, benefit-claiming parents.
Next, a dishonourable mention must go to Ken Lynge Primby and his Connect Resourcing/Recruitment Agency. Ken has a nasty and previously proven habit of accidentally letting his business fall into liquidation once every few years, leaving the debts (like mine) with the unfortunate encumbents, while a new Connect rises like a phoenix from the ashes. It's now looking like I'm only going to get a few percent of what I'm owed.
Finally, who could forget the biggest thieves of all, the Danish government. Who through various taxes end up helping themselves to approximiately 70% of your income and a huge chunk of your savings.
Needless to say, if I ever see a Dane in distress, they can expect little help from me. And if any of the above should step out onto the road, not seeing the huge lorry chundering towards them, I can only hope I'm there to see the moment of impact.
A World First for Denmark...yippee!
In case you weren't so economically aware as to have noticed it, Denmark is officially the first country in the world to fall into recession. The way these things are measured, that means three consecutive quarters of negative economic growth. Well, you can only inflate the currency for so long before the balloon starts to lose some air. And in Denmark's case, given that 70% of the economy is owned and run by the state, the private sector doesn't really have much room for manouevre.
Of course, this would be the time to start cutting taxes and benefits big time, thus encouraging more productivity. I very much doubt all these socialists will do it though. Expect increased taxes, although income tax won't rise, it'll be inflated property values and "environmental" taxes that take the extra cut here. There isn't much scope to increase income taxes when they're already the highest in the world at 68%. Even the stupidest Dane going (and there about 5 million of them), would see through that one.
Of course, this would be the time to start cutting taxes and benefits big time, thus encouraging more productivity. I very much doubt all these socialists will do it though. Expect increased taxes, although income tax won't rise, it'll be inflated property values and "environmental" taxes that take the extra cut here. There isn't much scope to increase income taxes when they're already the highest in the world at 68%. Even the stupidest Dane going (and there about 5 million of them), would see through that one.
Monday, June 9, 2008
A Trip to legoland, Billund, Denmark
Just come back from a 2 day break at Legoland in Billund, Denmark, including an overnight stay at the Legoland hotel, which put us conveniently close to the theme park, as well as direct tickets into the park, with no queues.
While I so far sound like an unpaid affiliate link, its worth noting that not everything was rosy. For starters, the theme park is much smaller than I expected, although I guess that is due to the fame and cachet of the LEGO branding more than inadequacies in the park itself.
What surprised me mostly, going on a Sunday and Monday, was the shortness of the queues to get on the rides. The weather both days was sweltering hot, so I'm not sure that had much to do with it, but the theme park, with signs for approx minutes wait times, etc. is obviously built to do much brisker trade than it got. while this could be a forbinger of the credit crunch and less free cash in consumer wallets, maybe LEGO is losing its trendiness? Either way, if this is an indicator of regular trade levels, it seems like an excellent time to consider a trip. Overall, I can honestly say, all our kids loved it, and they range from 7 to 20 months, so there is plenty of range there to test the rides available to all ages. Especially great is the pirate ship, where you can fire water gun broadsides with competing ships, and also at innocent passers-by who happen to get in range.
Anyhow, so far the good bits. Not so good is one my bugbears, a captive audience theme park that also charges you for parking, in this case 49 kroner. We stayed at the hotel, which offers free parking, and this leads onto my tip, which is to park at, or near to, the hotel, which has plentiful free parking and also a nearby swimming baths with extended free parking, then walk to the theme park itself (I guess if the wife complains, you could drop them off at the gate then park up for free and walk back)
The second bugbear is that the food inside the theme park is awful. Yes, I don't expect Egon Ronay standard at these places, but even a basic chicken salad contained only reconstituted mush passed off as barbecue chicken pieces, and the family buffet at the pizza restaurant was pathetic. Fries generally tended to be laced with dangerous levels of added salt, which even our kids refused to eat. The safest option, therefore, is a Danish hotdog, since at least these were made to a decent enough level. Be prepared for the higher prices you find at theme parks, which also makes the awful standard stand out even more. As a comparison, Djurssommerland in Northern Jutland does similar catering, but much better quality, funnily enough.
By the way, my food criticisms do not extend to the morning breakfast buffet at the hotel. This is really good, and a highly recommended part of the trip.
While I so far sound like an unpaid affiliate link, its worth noting that not everything was rosy. For starters, the theme park is much smaller than I expected, although I guess that is due to the fame and cachet of the LEGO branding more than inadequacies in the park itself.
What surprised me mostly, going on a Sunday and Monday, was the shortness of the queues to get on the rides. The weather both days was sweltering hot, so I'm not sure that had much to do with it, but the theme park, with signs for approx minutes wait times, etc. is obviously built to do much brisker trade than it got. while this could be a forbinger of the credit crunch and less free cash in consumer wallets, maybe LEGO is losing its trendiness? Either way, if this is an indicator of regular trade levels, it seems like an excellent time to consider a trip. Overall, I can honestly say, all our kids loved it, and they range from 7 to 20 months, so there is plenty of range there to test the rides available to all ages. Especially great is the pirate ship, where you can fire water gun broadsides with competing ships, and also at innocent passers-by who happen to get in range.
Anyhow, so far the good bits. Not so good is one my bugbears, a captive audience theme park that also charges you for parking, in this case 49 kroner. We stayed at the hotel, which offers free parking, and this leads onto my tip, which is to park at, or near to, the hotel, which has plentiful free parking and also a nearby swimming baths with extended free parking, then walk to the theme park itself (I guess if the wife complains, you could drop them off at the gate then park up for free and walk back)
The second bugbear is that the food inside the theme park is awful. Yes, I don't expect Egon Ronay standard at these places, but even a basic chicken salad contained only reconstituted mush passed off as barbecue chicken pieces, and the family buffet at the pizza restaurant was pathetic. Fries generally tended to be laced with dangerous levels of added salt, which even our kids refused to eat. The safest option, therefore, is a Danish hotdog, since at least these were made to a decent enough level. Be prepared for the higher prices you find at theme parks, which also makes the awful standard stand out even more. As a comparison, Djurssommerland in Northern Jutland does similar catering, but much better quality, funnily enough.
By the way, my food criticisms do not extend to the morning breakfast buffet at the hotel. This is really good, and a highly recommended part of the trip.
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