this post was submitted on 20 Feb 2026
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Here in Denmark we rank higher than the U.S. in ease of doing business. We don't have a minimum wage and it's super easy to fire people. We capitalism harder than America. On the other hand, we offer great safety nets and social services (paid for with high taxes), because we acknowledge that businesses do different things to the state.
I don't think the issue is limiting capitalism. If anything, unleashing capitalism results in competition and amazing products and services. Our tiny nation is a world leader in pharmaceuticals and shipping. Where I think we get it right is ensuring people don't fall through the cracks. Being temporarily unemployed can be hard to navigate and we help people when that happens. We provide free healthcare so no one needs to try to work while sick. We provide free education so that we can specialise in a competitive world. Because people aren't desperate for work, they're able to better negotiate with employers. They can turn down shitty offers and shitty employers. This leads to great workplace conditions for most people and high wages.
High taxes is limiting capitalism.
I disagree. Capitalism is an economic system based on the private ownership of the means of production and its use for the purpose of obtaining profit. Taxes are not antithetical to capitalism. Neither are unions, public healthcare, unemployment benefits, etc. Capitalism is really good at allocating resources efficiently, but it's not good at helping the vulnerable. That's where government needs to step in.