Norway should become more like Denmark – the Liberal
You are not crazy if your gut feeling tells you that a pre-Danishisation of our country is a bad idea. You may know that there is a higher tax level in Denmark, and higher taxes are not exactly at the top of the wish list, especially when the purchasing power of many is declining?
It is true that Danes pay more tax on wages than even Norwegians do. At the same time, they have had a slightly different economic policy with e.g. very low taxes, but which makes the total tax burden for an average family is lower than in Norway. As you know, liberals want both low taxes AND low taxes.
Why rather taxes yet taxes?
Although both taxes and fees go to the State, they have a different effect on the person who pays them. First, most taxes are fixed amounts, e.g. VAT on food, while taxes are often paid as a fraction of the values you own, e.g. property tax and income tax. Higher taxes can be controlled so that they will lead to smaller differences, ie hit those with the greatest values the hardest. One who wants a greater degree of economic edition will of course prefer such a model, but in lower taxes also has a positive effect on people’s willingness to buy. Greater willingness to buy among customers gives businesses more flexibility and contributes to more diversity and goods and services.
If I have to buy a bottle of wine I basically have to choose a brand that I know I like. Why? Wine is expensive and then I am less willing to take the chance to buy something I end up pouring in the sink. The feeling of losing money on the outside is awful and that’s why I avoid that feeling as best I can. This leads to a conservative pattern of behavior, and you miss out on fine experiences you did not know you could have. I add that you must have a liquor store with professional customer advisors, so that you do not waste several hundred kroner on something that needs to be washed.
There are good reasons why liberals want low taxes, even for the wealthy. Low taxes make business owners competitive with foreign competitors and thus give the private business sector sustainability. Private business is necessary for increased prosperity in the form of better, technology and services and to avoid Dutch sick in the economy. High taxes push the balance between the private and the public in the direction of the public, and therefore people who understand this can not settle down with sky-high taxes if you have low taxes.
Politics is about more than money
There is no conclusion that says that Norwegian or Danish tax policy is preferable. The problem with Norwegian tax policy is that it also provides incentives for Norwegians to choose certain products over others. Alcohol and tobacco are heavily taxed, while vegetables have varied low tax levels. With its tax policy, Denmark proves that they are a generally value-liberal country, which not only understands, but also accepts that freedom and to impose a health or safety cost that it is ok to pay. In Denmark, you are allowed to record pornographic films for sale, play at the casino, shop at shops open on Sundays, have a beach or park party with alcohol and dance at a nightclub until 6 in the morning. You can also either pay or pay for sex without it being a movie recording or not. Denmark allows doubts to benefit people and does not automatically conclude that this is harmful to everyone’s health or finances. Adults are given the freedom to make that decision themselves instead of the state guessing at what you tolerate.
Despite a lot of freedom with the right to risk, most people probably know that Denmark is still a state-of-the-art and well-functioning society. but the thought of us having to pull it all the way out like them is nauseating to many. Claims like that it’s just luck that it does not go to hell with Danes, or that we Norwegians are completely different biological or cultural and will never be able to handle the same freedom is nonsense! These are emergency arguments that people come up with when they are instantly painted a reality that goes against simple intuition.
It is very interesting for liberals to experience in the neighboring country in Denmark. If you have the opportunity for a stay abroad in Denmark with a job or studies, take the chance! My 6 months in Copenhagen are among my best memories, and the city’s colorful relaxed vibe can not be compared to Norway I think.