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[Ankesh]

Originally Posted by Richard Dennis

That people are happier with less freedom, less money, and more government?

Thanks Richard.

To tell you the truth, the idea does not sit well with me personally. But I'm trying to look at it from a macro level.

I don't think people in Denmark are less free.
I think their per capita income levels are also higher. So its certainly not less money.

But what they have is higher taxes. And bigger governments. And the government using higher taxes to provide basic necessities like security, food, health, education to all.

So "less freedom, less money, and more government" should not be bunched together. Because it'll just deviate the discussion.

There seems to be evidence that shows that populations get happier when their basic necessities are guaranteed. So it makes sense to not to reject the idea of social democracy out right. But figure out a middle way to may be make it a bit more merit based. At least thats my current thinking on it.