Dan, this was a well-written and well-thought out piece.

The commentators who cite Denmark's small size and relative ethnic homogeneity miss out on an important point: it is not skin color or religion which are the primary factors in social division, but economic outcomes and frustrations with things not working in daily life.

The utilitarian concept of "the needs of the many outweigh the needs of the few" is integral to Scandinavian culture, and is anathema to America's "I've-got-mine-so-fuck-you-Jack" attitude. Individualism is unhealthy among human beings, since we are social animals. When we see huge differences between one person and another, we instinctively feel resentment and jealousy.

And, yes, the concept of hygge is vital. Acceptance of the simple joy of reading a book while enjoying a cup of hot coffee, of finding happiness in a pleasant stroll, of being comfortable while visiting with friends, are all emblematic of a much better way of living than being driven in pursuit of the almighty Dollar.

Being in a society with universal health care, free education, lack of a police-state atmosphere, all require a heavy investment in social infrastructure. But when you consider that things work, people really get along, we can enjoy life, then that investment is worth a great deal more than mere position on some kind of GDP ranking.

So your post really convinced me that while a vacation in Italy is wonderful conceptually, one in Denmark actually makes more sense.