Editor’s note: This op-ed is by Don Keelan, a certified public accountant and resident of Arlington. The piece first appeared in the Bennington Banner.
Recently, Sen. Bernie Sanders held a series of town meetings throughout Vermont. He was accompanied by Peter Taksoe-Jensen, the Danish ambassador to the U.S. The intent of the tour was to expose the virtues of Denmark’s socialism and why it should be adopted in Vermont and throughout America.
About two weeks earlier and 3,800 miles away, Helle Thorning-Schmidt, Denmark’s prime minister was also on tour of her country’s western provinces. More on the Danish prime minister’s tour shortly, but let’s get to Bernie’s objectives.
Our self-declared socialist U.S. senator noted in his recent Rutland Herald column the wonderful programs offered to Danish citizens by their government. For example, expectant mothers can obtain four weeks of paid leave prior to giving birth with another 14 weeks of paid leave once the newborn arrives. Put another way, it is about one-third of a year’s pay before you add the baby’s father, who can obtain two weeks of paid leave as well.
Before we discuss Denmark’s government having to pay for the full cost of college, graduate school as well as medical school costs, let’s examine what paid parental leave would mean to America’s small business and nonprofit organizations.
At times I believe it would do Mr. Sanders as well as others of like-mindedness to run a small 50-employee business for a year or so — one in which they have their personal wealth invested and at risk.
Bernie’s piece doesn’t say specifically who actually pays the cost other than by reference that Denmark has high taxes. In any event, it is the employer who generally winds up with the bill.
At times I believe it would do Mr. Sanders as well as others of like-mindedness to run a small 50-employee business for a year or so — one in which they have their personal wealth invested and at risk. For the moment let’s not worry about finding customers for the company’s product or service. Also, let’s not become distracted in getting well-educated, motivated and reliable employees. And for that matter, let’s not focus on the businesses often ill-fated attempts to obtain banking financing in today’s environment — all of this is trivial.
Instead, let’s focus on giving employees more maternity leave, and vacations (Danes receive five weeks each year), cradle to grave health care , two full years of unemployment coverage and, of course, education.
Small businesses and nonprofits in Vermont pay into a state and federal unemployment fund on behalf of their employees. They also contribute dollar for dollar for their share of an employee’s Social Security. Some organizations do make allowances for college education and pensions (401k’s), and health insurance, but not all small business and nonprofits can afford to do so and continue to stay in business.
I’ve often wondered why Bernie’s staff shields the senator from what is really taking place in business. Does the senator ever check the goods on sale at stores in Vermont, even those retail establishments that promote “buy local” and see how much of the inventory is made overseas — and ask why?
Vermont’s small businesses organizations might escape having to pay sizeable income taxes but they are not immune to all of the overreaching regulations and employer mandates that come from Washington and Montpelier.
To my knowledge, Bernie has never owned and operated a small business. If he had, he might have a better understanding of what it takes to do so and may be less inclined to be telling us how wonderful the Danes live versus Americans — at least that is what he is selling to us — but hold on …
Not all is euphoric in Denmark. According to an article on Danish politics in the Economist (May 4, 2013), trouble is brewing in “happy land,” big trouble. Not unlike some other countries in Europe — the cost of Denmark’s socialism is becoming too much to pay for.
In Denmark, the local Democrats approval rating among the country’s cities, is at 14.4 percent and is the lowest in 115 years. Corporate taxes are being reduced, grants for education and unemployment are also being cut. The country’s schools were closed for the month of April — there was a country-wide teacher walkout.
Prime Minister Thorning-Schmidt is being harassed throughout Denmark. Bernie noted that the Danes are among the happiest people in the world and he quotes the findings of the Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development as his source. The OECD should have done this survey this May 1, Denmark’s Labor Day. Happiness, “in feel good land” was so fleeting.
Bernie, if you and your fellow Congress folks got your own house in order, just maybe Americans would feel better and less stressed? Also, Ambassador Taksoe-Jensen resides in Washington, D.C. Maybe you should invite him over to Capitol Hill and have him provide you and your colleagues with his feel-good tonic — it just might change the environment in Congress.
