WE THE PEOPLE: We're number one?

By Carol Kemp / Chronicle contributor

June 30, 2009 04:23 pm

— My husband and I recently returned from a trip to Norway, a country of immense scenic beauty, and Sweden, pristine and neat. As we began our journey in Oslo, we noticed the unusual number of young men caring for their babies — pushing strollers, feeding, soothing, and holding them. We learned that Norway grants paternity leave to new fathers, with a minimum of six weeks that must be taken or forfeited.
Since 1993, paternity leave has been mandated by law to encourage fathers to take a more active role in child rearing. Mothers receive paid maternity leave of 54 weeks at 80% of pay or 44 weeks at 100%. Leave can be shared between the parents.
Contrast this to U.S. policy, which gives 12 weeks' unpaid leave to qualifying individuals. States have different qualifying rules, more or less stringent than national policy.
In Norway, daycare is also provided, allowing parents to enroll their children in high-quality, low-cost programs that are educational facilities, with national standards regarding instructional content. In addition, tax-free family allowances have been given to Norwegians since 1946 to help with the costs of raising children. It appears that Norway does more than just talk about “family values.”
While we were traveling in planes, boats, and trains, we were able to keep in touch with family and friends by 3G (3rd generation) wireless communications — even in the most remote areas. Not only do we not have 3G in Crossville, our cell phone doesn’t function in parts of the county. In Sweden, I met cousins for the first time and learned that one of them is now putting up 4th generation communication towers. We rented a car there, driving about 2000 miles without encountering one pothole. We saw very few billboards while passing through the beautiful, uncluttered countryside — seeing no rusting cars and no trash on the road.
In both countries, we saw no poverty. There may be some Scandinavians with limited means, but even they are afforded education and health care. In Norway, we met the hotel owner whose daughter married an American. Having dual-citizenship, she returns annually with her children for their medical and dental needs. I can hear the detractors now — “It’s socialism!” However, the Scandinavians view their economic system not as an ideological game but as the route to a more equitable society.
As the U.S. insurance industry, with its army of lobbyists, trots out its usual scare campaign of “socialized medicine,” it seeks to keep its enormous profits while working to convince us that we have the best system in the world. It’s somewhat ludicrous to worry about socialism in health care, however, as we funnel billions to our financial institutions.
And about those high taxes? It’s true! However, the median after-tax income for all Norwegian households in 2007 was approximately $57,000 (using a conservative exchange rate). For couples with children aged 0-5 years, it was over $86,000.
Interestingly, in annual polls measuring the “well-being” of countries, Scandinavians consistently rank among the happiest. Could it be the freedom from stress of worrying about medical bills or paying for their children’s college education? My cousin in Stockholm can afford to pursue the lower-paying teaching job he loves without this additional anxiety.
Are there lessons to be learned? After all, our Constitution speaks of forming “a more perfect Union.”