The United Nations has released its annual report this week,ranking the quality of life for 177 countries of the world. For six consecutive years
Norway has taken first place. With a population of about 4.5 million, it
is one of the oil-rich-per-capita nations in the world,giving the society
large amounts of wealth to lavish upon its citizens in education and social
services.

Iceland,Australia,Ireland and Sweden are ranked as the second thru fifth
best places to live,with Canada,Japan and the United States,at six,seven
and eighth.

The Human Development Index,prepared by the UN Development Program,
has been issued annually since 1990 and includes every country which
statistics are available for. The report that rates not only per-capita but
education levels,health care and life expectancy in measuring a nations
well being.

Despite wealth,high levels of education,low unemployment,and an energy
sector economic based,Norwegians often complain of high taxes and of
problems with the 'cradle-to-grave' welfare state.Often singled out are
waiting lists at hospitals and shortages of public care for children and the
eldery.

On the other hand,life expectancy in Norway is nearly double that of many
of the worlds worst-off nations.For the 31 countries with low human develpment,life expectancy is only 46 years-generally 32 years less than
in rich countries.The literacy rate is nearly 5 times that of the lowest ranking
country.

Norways Aid Minister,Erik Solheim,chided his countrymen.He said that,instead
of complaining,Norwegians should work on solving their problems,and that
they should share their wealth with poorer countries.Norway is already one
of the worlds most generous foreign aid donors per capita,giving away nearly
one percent of its gross national product annually.

''The top place should make us show humility'' said Solheim in the NTB interview.''Norway should be seen as a modern, rich and sucessful society,
but should also be seen as a generous country.The world must see us as
rich and generous,not rich and miserly''.

Unsurprisingly,the countries at the top of the list are high income nations,
as people in richer countries tend to be healthier and have more educational
oppertunities.But some nations have a rank above their income.

Vietnam,for example,is poor but ranks above countries with a higher per capita income.Conversely,Bahrain has an average income twice the level
of Chile,but it ranks lower because it ''under-performs on education and
literacy'',according to the report.

Many EU nations and New Zealand ranked highly.



The top ten best places to live in the United States are:

[1] Fort Collins, CO
[2] Naperville, IL
[3] Sugar Land TX
[4] Columbia/Ellicott City, MD
[5] Cary, NC
[6] Overland Park, KS
[7] Scottsdale, AZ
[8] Boise, ID
[9] Fairfield, CT
[10] Eden Prairie, MN


http://money.cnn.com/magazine/moneymag/bplive/2006/

Columbia/Ellicott City? Why the hell is that so great? If they had to pick a place in MD I'd think it'd be somewhere in Montgomery County... Bethesda or Chevy Chase or Kensington. At least it's somewhere near me though... It's like 25 minutes east of here.

Out of that list, I've been to Fort Collins, Overland Park (or OP), and Eden Prairie. They're all really nice cities. OP is the one I question the most based on how close it is to the industrial center of Kansas City. Eden Prairie should have been ranked higher, IMO.

Someone who posts here lives in Overland-but I cant remember who :(

Norway don't use much of the oil money actually, they are mostly put in the bank. The schools and hospitals really need some of those money, but don't get them.

Out of that list, I've been to Fort Collins, Overland Park (or OP), and Eden Prairie. They're all really nice cities. OP is the one I question the most based on how close it is to the industrial center of Kansas City. Eden Prairie should have been ranked higher, IMO.
ah!, Overland Park! that's one thing i miss about being a mover-dinner at Hooters after getting tanked up at the Embassy Suites accross the street:smile2:

i about got mauled there once when one of the jackasses i use to work with told our waitress it was my birthday...my 3rd one there that year:birthday:

i wonder if they still serve "Flying Monkey" beer there?

Norway don't use much of the oil money actually, they are mostly put in the bank. The schools and hospitals really need some of those money, but don't get them.
school and hospitals are like people...they can always use more money, but to they really need it? are they meeting the basic mission goal? teaching the kids how to read and write, then how to think? and healing the sick and injured?

Eden Prairie should have been ranked higher, IMO.It's not even close to being the nicest place to live in Minnesota, but their schools are outstanding and I suspect there's a minimum population level to make the list.

school and hospitals are like people...they can always use more money, but to they really need it? are they meeting the basic mission goal? teaching the kids how to read and write, then how to think? and healing the sick and injured?

Hospitals don't have enough money to keep the whole hospital open, so they close down beds who are available even tho the queues are long. Schools are closed due to health reasons because they don't get the money needed for maintenance. Now that is not how it is supposed to work in a country with trillions of oilmoney in a bank account.

http://www.newfie-express.ca/pics/cb1.jpg
http://www.newfie-express.ca/pics/cb5.jpg

Hospitals don't have enough money to keep the whole hospital open, so they close down beds who are available even tho the queues are long. Schools are closed due to health reasons because they don't get the money needed for maintenance. Now that is not how it is supposed to work in a country with trillions of oilmoney in a bank account.
that does suck-i'd sue if i was you.

that does suck-i'd sue if i was you.

lol
This is not the US, we can't just sue anyone and everyone just like that :)

lol
This is not the US, we can't just sue anyone and everyone just like that :)
That sucks.

Originally Posted by sedan
It's not even close to being the nicest place to live in Minnesota, but their schools are outstanding and I suspect there's a minimum population level to make the list.
Hey, it's better than Richfield.:)

lol
This is not the US, we can't just sue anyone and everyone just like that :)
you're not allowed to petition for the redress of grievances? that surely sucks. no wonder my mother's mother's father left Norway..or Sweden (it depends on who's story you believe) :(

I think this suing people for zillions of bucks is ridiculous myself.

yes paul,if can be. Theres very few circumstances where it seems alright to do so. Suing someone after a death seems a bit much to me in the essence if you win that money isn't going to bring that person back and if you lose,it still doesn't bring that person back.
Serious accidents that cause a person to lose a limb or be unable to work,I would say alright cause a person has to be able to live and take care of stuff still.
Some of these people that sue for stupid crap need to go out and get a real job and stop flooding the system with pointless suits because they don't want to get up off their lazy arse and work.(yes,there are people that do this)

Thats the type of suit Im on about.

I sometimes feel that in the US a claim is settled on the qualities assets more than what the actual malpractise or injury was.

Maybe its just me tho.

If someone sued for say $10 million in this country-people would laugh at em.

Have been thinking as to why Ireland is said to be the 4th best place to live,
everywhere else must be REALLY crap-if thats the case.

Irish spend more cash on alcohol than any other nation.

Every man woman and child spends E1100 a year on booze.

Third highest smoking rate in EU.

but theres hope.

Lowest marriage rate in world :)

Lowest marriage rate,Lager needs to move there then:lolhit:

Irish spend more cash on alcohol than any other nation.
You may spend more cash on it, but the Russians drink more (most hard liquor consumed per capita on earth). I guess it's cheaper there than in Ireland... I'd believe that. Everything in Ireland was so expensive... I paid like $2.50 for a 12 ounce coke that woulda been 60 or 70 cents here. :p

I think this suing people for zillions of bucks is ridiculous myself.
there are other things to gain (or recover) from a lawsuit than just money. a change in procedure would be a good start. what good is it to pay taxes out the wazoo if you're not getting anything for it? one of the basic functions of promoting the general welfare, and if the school needs a new roof or the toilets overflow (just guessing on that), those needs aren't being met.

socking away money for a rainy day is penny wise and pound foolish when you have a gale in the forecast and a leaky roof.

Have been thinking as to why Ireland is said to be the 4th best place to live,
everywhere else must be REALLY crap-if thats the case.

Irish spend more cash on alcohol than any other nation.

Every man woman and child spends E1100 a year on booze.

Third highest smoking rate in EU.

but theres hope.

Lowest marriage rate in world :)
that's why it's #4...drink more and it will seem even better:drinktoth

You may spend more cash on it, but the Russians drink more (most hard liquor consumed per capita on earth). I guess it's cheaper there than in Ireland... I'd believe that. Everything in Ireland was so expensive... I paid like $2.50 for a 12 ounce coke that woulda been 60 or 70 cents here. :p
Aint that the truth-thats why Im living up here now :)

there are other things to gain (or recover) from a lawsuit than just money. a change in procedure would be a good start. what good is it to pay taxes out the wazoo if you're not getting anything for it? one of the basic functions of promoting the general welfare, and if the school needs a new roof or the toilets overflow (just guessing on that), those needs aren't being met.

socking away money for a rainy day is penny wise and pound foolish when you have a gale in the forecast and a leaky roof.
During the last few years,the Norwegan gov have been buying Nursing Homes
in Spain,and every pensioner is being sent there for a couple of months a year.

During the last few years,the Norwegan gov have been buying Nursing Homes
in Spain,and every pensioner is being sent there for a couple of months a year.
you can have one or the other, but you can't have both.

schools uninhabitable, and hospitals seriously under funded, and they're sending old folks that can't even go enjoy the better weather to Spain for a couple of months in the winter?

that's fuq'd up.