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Would you rather be an average Californian or an average Danish person? Who has better quality of life? Who has longer life expectancy? Who gets to retire earli

Would you rather be an average Californian or an average Danish person? Who has better quality of life? Who has longer life expectancy? Who gets to retire earlier? Who gets more time off per year or parental leave? Who is happier/less stressed? California is great for the ruling elite and people working in big tech, but not that great for everyone else. The only way California is best is if the only thing you care about is income potential.

RestlessMind 3y ago
Strictly my personal opinion - if you own a home in California, your life is probably better than the average Danish person due to access to better weather and better economy. Homeownership rate for CA is 55.8% - https://fred.stlouisfed.org/series/CAHOWN https://fred.stlouisfed.org/series/CAHOWN Also add people on rent controlled housing, who are in a similar boat, and that number would be even higher. Ultimately, you just have to look at the immigration numbers of "the best and the brightest", who can go anywhere in the world including CA and Denmark. I was one of them and decided to come to CA over any European country. So were many of my friends and many of my European colleagues from countries with all the benefits you mentioned.
- diogenescynic 3y ago
  You think people in Fresno, Bakersfield, Redding or Lancaster are better off than someone in Denmark? Is your only measurement the net worth of the person and not actually anything else like time off or life expectancy? The only people in California doing better are in Bay Area or coastal cities in Southern California or Tahoe. The rest of the state is worse off than the Midwest or rural Texas.
  - hot_gril 3y ago
    "You think people in Fresno, Bakersfield, Redding or Lancaster are better off than someone in Denmark?" Yes. And I'm glad my family migrated to Fresno instead of Denmark.
    - diogenescynic 3y ago
      The average person/teacher/railroad worker in Denmark is almost definitely doing better than the average resident of Fresno by every metric. You’re in denial.
      - hot_gril 3y ago
        Yeah, I hear that from every European who spends time complaining about America on the internet. This place sucks supposedly, yet they talk about it so much. Good thing they don't have to live here!
      - diogenescynic 3y ago
        >Yeah, I hear that from every European who spends time complaining about America on the internet. This place sucks supposedly, yet they talk about it so much. Good thing they don't have to live here! Both can be true! And maybe you’re just overly sensitive of criticism of California and could admit it’s not perfect and not everyone makes $400k a year in big tech? Or do you not get outside your bubble ever?
        hot_gril 3y ago
        For my one response, there were probably 200 Californians who didn't even care to say anything. Other states complain about us, other countries complain about the US, but it's like shouting at a brick wall. So you could call me a little more sensitive than them for even responding, but still pretty callous. Nowhere is perfect, go experience another state if you don't believe me, or if you've never lived in CA then don't complain about living here.
        diogenescynic 3y ago
        That’s called whataboutism… Is there no legitimate criticism in your mind? Nothing worth changing or improving? That seems shockingly arrogant. Other states have their issues but I don’t live there so I don’t care as much—I want California to get its shit together because I live here and raise my kids here. It’s clear as day to my eyes that California quality of life has fallen since the 1990s… who cares if home prices annd incomes are up but everything else is so getting worse by the day? Rule of law is barely holding on for its life…
- yodsanklai 3y ago
  Sure, if you work in tech. It happens there are many innovative tech companies in California. Suppose now you have a "regular" job, you'll be probably be happier in Denmark. I actually work for a Californian big tech company, remotely in Europe. I could move to the bay area but my life quality is better here, on many levels.
roenxi 3y ago
... California? I'm in tech, migrating to California is always a literal and practical consideration for me. I might actually put my money where my mouth is on that one. No way I'm moving to Denmark. Californians have a higher median wage than the Denmark average, which is a big deal [0]. Reputation for being more accepting of foreigners. The weather is better from what I've heard, and there is a land war involving nuclear powers happening in Europe. And in California, statistically I;'d be fairly average. Not after getting a tech job on US wages though, maybe. If you want to move to Denmark that is cool with me, but if I'm moving anywhere it is probably California. [0] In hindsight I might have been wrong about this - I was comparing household income in California - https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_U.S._states_and_territories_by_income https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_U.S._states_and_territ... - to average income in Denmark - https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_countries_by_average_wage https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_countries_by_average_w... . Median household vs. average per capita isn't a reasonable comparison. Regardless, I wouldn't move to Denmark.
- diogenescynic 3y ago
  >In hindsight I might have been wrong about this - I was comparing household income in California - https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_U.S._states_and_territ https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_U.S._states_and_territ... - to average income in Denmark - https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_countries_by_average_w https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_countries_by_average_w... . Median household vs. average per capita isn't a reasonable comparison. Regardless, I wouldn't move to Denmark. lol proved my point. Being a Californian looks remarkably different if you’re not in the Bay Area or coastal Southern California. Most of California is super rural and poor and doesn’t have access to high paying jobs. Sure, if you win the lottery and work for Apple or Google you’re gonna be okay but go look at Mountain View, Cupertino, and surrounding areas and it’s super unimpressive what you get for your money. There’s a reason people in Denmark are happier, wealthier, have a higher quality of life, live longer, etc. Yes, the income total at the high end is capped but overall people are better off. That’s why you can’t just say oh well people in Palo Alto and Montecito are doing well… therefore California is amazing!
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j7ake 3y ago
Have you actually lived in both California and Denmark? Denmark is a great place… if you’re Danish. A terrible place if you are immigrating from outside of Europe. Compared to California, Danish is more xenophobic, live in smaller homes, have worse restaurants, have fewer prestigious institutes, lower income, and have worse weather.
- diogenescynic 3y ago
  I’m not talking about where is a better place to immigrate. >live in smaller homes, have worse restaurants, have fewer prestigious institutes, lower income, and have worse weather. Yeah but those are only superficial things in the grand scheme of things. The things that actually matter like, home affordability, quality of public schools, quality of life, vacation time, hours worked per week, life expectancy, parental leave, etc. And yeah Danish food is kinda boring but they like it so who are we to complain. I used it as an example because their society actually benefits the average person like a teacher or railroad worker whereas in America/California if you aren’t working for a big tech company and in the top 15% of income you’re kinda not doing all that well compared to other developed countries. Most jobs in California don’t even offer paid parental leave… we’ve pathetically behind Europe but yeah.. we earn more if you don’t account for longer hours and all those pesky benefits like vacation or sick leave or parental leave.
  - hot_gril 3y ago
    Education, opportunity, and freedom are not superficial. Denmark is an ok place where people can live ok lives, provided they tread carefully and keep everyone else out. And good weather shouldn't be taken for granted. It can affect your entire mood.
    - diogenescynic 3y ago
      So I guess vacation, hours worked per week, parental leave, life expectancy, and quality of life are all trivial to you… got it. Income is basically all you’re focusing on. People in Denmark are as free, if not more free. You’re just defining freedom as money. They get more time off, have free universities, and practically everyone makes a good/living wage and can take vacation and parental leave. Only Americans in the top 20% would have anything comparable to what their average McDonald’s worker has. Americans are much less free at our jobs than the Danish or average European—yay freedom/capitalism and right to work laws.

RestlessMind 3y ago

Strictly my personal opinion - if you own a home in California, your life is probably better than the average Danish person due to access to better weather and better economy. Homeownership rate for CA is 55.8% - https://fred.stlouisfed.org/series/CAHOWN https://fred.stlouisfed.org/series/CAHOWN Also add people on rent controlled housing, who are in a similar boat, and that number would be even higher. Ultimately, you just have to look at the immigration numbers of "the best and the brightest", who can go anywhere in the world including CA and Denmark. I was one of them and decided to come to CA over any European country. So were many of my friends and many of my European colleagues from countries with all the benefits you mentioned.

diogenescynic 3y ago
You think people in Fresno, Bakersfield, Redding or Lancaster are better off than someone in Denmark? Is your only measurement the net worth of the person and not actually anything else like time off or life expectancy? The only people in California doing better are in Bay Area or coastal cities in Southern California or Tahoe. The rest of the state is worse off than the Midwest or rural Texas.
- hot_gril 3y ago
  "You think people in Fresno, Bakersfield, Redding or Lancaster are better off than someone in Denmark?" Yes. And I'm glad my family migrated to Fresno instead of Denmark.
  - diogenescynic 3y ago
    The average person/teacher/railroad worker in Denmark is almost definitely doing better than the average resident of Fresno by every metric. You’re in denial.
    - hot_gril 3y ago
      Yeah, I hear that from every European who spends time complaining about America on the internet. This place sucks supposedly, yet they talk about it so much. Good thing they don't have to live here!
    - diogenescynic 3y ago
      >Yeah, I hear that from every European who spends time complaining about America on the internet. This place sucks supposedly, yet they talk about it so much. Good thing they don't have to live here! Both can be true! And maybe you’re just overly sensitive of criticism of California and could admit it’s not perfect and not everyone makes $400k a year in big tech? Or do you not get outside your bubble ever?
      - hot_gril 3y ago
        For my one response, there were probably 200 Californians who didn't even care to say anything. Other states complain about us, other countries complain about the US, but it's like shouting at a brick wall. So you could call me a little more sensitive than them for even responding, but still pretty callous. Nowhere is perfect, go experience another state if you don't believe me, or if you've never lived in CA then don't complain about living here.
        diogenescynic 3y ago
        That’s called whataboutism… Is there no legitimate criticism in your mind? Nothing worth changing or improving? That seems shockingly arrogant. Other states have their issues but I don’t live there so I don’t care as much—I want California to get its shit together because I live here and raise my kids here. It’s clear as day to my eyes that California quality of life has fallen since the 1990s… who cares if home prices annd incomes are up but everything else is so getting worse by the day? Rule of law is barely holding on for its life…
yodsanklai 3y ago
Sure, if you work in tech. It happens there are many innovative tech companies in California. Suppose now you have a "regular" job, you'll be probably be happier in Denmark. I actually work for a Californian big tech company, remotely in Europe. I could move to the bay area but my life quality is better here, on many levels.

roenxi 3y ago

... California? I'm in tech, migrating to California is always a literal and practical consideration for me. I might actually put my money where my mouth is on that one. No way I'm moving to Denmark. Californians have a higher median wage than the Denmark average, which is a big deal [0]. Reputation for being more accepting of foreigners. The weather is better from what I've heard, and there is a land war involving nuclear powers happening in Europe. And in California, statistically I;'d be fairly average. Not after getting a tech job on US wages though, maybe. If you want to move to Denmark that is cool with me, but if I'm moving anywhere it is probably California. [0] In hindsight I might have been wrong about this - I was comparing household income in California - https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_U.S._states_and_territories_by_income https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_U.S._states_and_territ... - to average income in Denmark - https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_countries_by_average_wage https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_countries_by_average_w... . Median household vs. average per capita isn't a reasonable comparison. Regardless, I wouldn't move to Denmark.

diogenescynic 3y ago
>In hindsight I might have been wrong about this - I was comparing household income in California - https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_U.S._states_and_territ https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_U.S._states_and_territ... - to average income in Denmark - https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_countries_by_average_w https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_countries_by_average_w... . Median household vs. average per capita isn't a reasonable comparison. Regardless, I wouldn't move to Denmark. lol proved my point. Being a Californian looks remarkably different if you’re not in the Bay Area or coastal Southern California. Most of California is super rural and poor and doesn’t have access to high paying jobs. Sure, if you win the lottery and work for Apple or Google you’re gonna be okay but go look at Mountain View, Cupertino, and surrounding areas and it’s super unimpressive what you get for your money. There’s a reason people in Denmark are happier, wealthier, have a higher quality of life, live longer, etc. Yes, the income total at the high end is capped but overall people are better off. That’s why you can’t just say oh well people in Palo Alto and Montecito are doing well… therefore California is amazing!
- 3y ago

deleted 3y ago

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j7ake 3y ago

Have you actually lived in both California and Denmark? Denmark is a great place… if you’re Danish. A terrible place if you are immigrating from outside of Europe. Compared to California, Danish is more xenophobic, live in smaller homes, have worse restaurants, have fewer prestigious institutes, lower income, and have worse weather.

diogenescynic 3y ago
I’m not talking about where is a better place to immigrate. >live in smaller homes, have worse restaurants, have fewer prestigious institutes, lower income, and have worse weather. Yeah but those are only superficial things in the grand scheme of things. The things that actually matter like, home affordability, quality of public schools, quality of life, vacation time, hours worked per week, life expectancy, parental leave, etc. And yeah Danish food is kinda boring but they like it so who are we to complain. I used it as an example because their society actually benefits the average person like a teacher or railroad worker whereas in America/California if you aren’t working for a big tech company and in the top 15% of income you’re kinda not doing all that well compared to other developed countries. Most jobs in California don’t even offer paid parental leave… we’ve pathetically behind Europe but yeah.. we earn more if you don’t account for longer hours and all those pesky benefits like vacation or sick leave or parental leave.
- hot_gril 3y ago
  Education, opportunity, and freedom are not superficial. Denmark is an ok place where people can live ok lives, provided they tread carefully and keep everyone else out. And good weather shouldn't be taken for granted. It can affect your entire mood.
  - diogenescynic 3y ago
    So I guess vacation, hours worked per week, parental leave, life expectancy, and quality of life are all trivial to you… got it. Income is basically all you’re focusing on. People in Denmark are as free, if not more free. You’re just defining freedom as money. They get more time off, have free universities, and practically everyone makes a good/living wage and can take vacation and parental leave. Only Americans in the top 20% would have anything comparable to what their average McDonald’s worker has. Americans are much less free at our jobs than the Danish or average European—yay freedom/capitalism and right to work laws.