Bernie Sanders has expressed nothing but praise for the Scandinavian countries. During the first Democratic debate he stated: “I think we should look to countries like Denmark, like Sweden and Norway and learn from what they have accomplished for their working people.” In an interview with ABC News in 2015, Sanders steadfastly stated he wanted the United States to look more like Scandinavia.
So what exactly is Denmark doing right? As a Danish citizen, I can give an insight into why Bernie Sanders thinks the small Kingdom of Denmark is so great.
The typical reaction when I tell an American I’m from Denmark is a nod and a blank expression. Some Americans I have encountered have heard of Copenhagen, Danish design or associate Denmark with a Danish pastry. So let’s start with some facts. Denmark is a small country of 5.6 million people. The capital is Copenhagen and neighboring countries are Germany, Sweden and Norway. We speak Danish, not Dutch, which is the language of the Netherlands (Holland).