Edhat Staff
In a retort to President Donald Trump’s remarks, over 270,000 Danes have rallied around a proposal to acquire California from the United States. This notion emerge last month amid Trump’s array of unintelligible statements, including a proposal for Canada’s statehood, intentions to take over the Panama Canal, declarations of U.S. ownership over Gaza, and an attempted acquisition of Greenland.
The campaign, advocating for Denmark’s “purchase” of California, combats Trump’s repeated overtures to buy or invade Greenland, an autonomous Danish territory. The Danish petition jests about importing “hygge,” a Danish ethos of coziness and contentment, to Hollywood, introducing bicycle lanes to Beverly Hills, and serving organic “smørrebrød” on every corner, thereby transforming the Golden State into “New Denmark.”
“Imagine a California basking in the Nordic values of rule of law, universal healthcare, and fact-based politics,” the petition states. The campaign’s slogan, “Måke Califørnia Great Ægain,” parodies Trump’s own campaign mantra, drawing a distinct contrast between the two visions for America’s future.
Santa Barbara County is already home to a town steeped in Danish history and architecture, Solvang. The town was founded in 1911 after Danish-American educators purchased 9,000 acres of land in the area.
The petition critically addresses Trump’s fraught relationship with California, highlighting his derogatory comments about the state and its leadership. “Let’s be honest – Trump isn’t exactly California’s biggest fan. He’s called it ‘the most ruined state in the Union’ and has feuded with its leaders for years. We’re pretty sure he’d be willing to part with it for the right price,” the petition states.
On Tuesday, Trump doubled down on his comments during the State of the Union causing alarm and confusion by lawmakers.
“We need it really for international world security. And I think we’re going to get it. One way or the other, we’re going to get it,” Trump said, appearing to leave open the possibility of using force. The United States has not acquired a territory since the Mariana Islands, Caroline Islands, and Marshall Islands following World War II.
Greenland Prime Minister Múte Bourup Egede responded on Wednesday stating Greenland cannot be bought.
“Kalaallit Nunaat is ours,” Egede wrote on Facebook, using Greenlandic for the “Land of the People” or the “Land of the Greenlanders.”
Hmm. It might be possible. Our current POTUS is a “let’s make a deal” kind of guy. Probably take more than 30 pieces of silver though. He’s a ruthless negotiator and doesn’t pay out in full after the deal is struck, so a bond would be necessary.
My nephew who has lives in Copenhagen for the last 15 years says it would be a good idea then Californians can pay 56% of their income to support the “system” in Denmark.
Copenhagen and Denmark are FABULOUS. Source: multiple relatives and friends who live there. How many homeless people did I see sleeping on park benches? One.
This guy makes up stuff ,
Homelessness is considered a significant social issue in Denmark.Since 2007, comprehensive counts have been performed every other year in week six (early February). The latest, from 2017, counted 6,635 homeless people in Denmark.The total number of people experiencing homelessness at some point in 2017 was estimated at 13,000, while earlier estimates have placed it between 10,000 and 15,000.Roughly half the homeless are in the Capital Region.[ When compared to many other countries, such as the United States, the rate of Denmark’s homeless is significantly lower, which has been linked to the relatively comprehensive welfare system.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Homelessness_in_Denmark
The last time I visited, I asked a friend about the person I saw sleeping on a bench, several times that I ran around “the lakes” (definitely in the Capital region). She said that their social services provide housing, but often the available flat is not in the area the person wants to live – not near family and friends – so they refuse to stay there.
Back when the leaders of our three branches of government were people with principles, we had high rates of taxation on high incomes, yet maintained prosperity. We built and maintained critical infrastructure and grew the middle class. The media provided information and was a watchdog, rather than faux “infotainment”. We funded basic research that provided a flood of new and beneficial technologies. We deployed vaccines that eliminated some of the scourges of severe disease.
Now we just have grifters, spineless brown nosers, and insane philistines, and if we’re not careful, there may be no return to a responsible democracy.
Your nephew is lying. It apparently runs in the family.
You don’t know him and you lie every time you look in the mirror.
I don’t have to know him … anyone who says what you claim he said is lying. And your silly “no, you” swipe doesn’t even make sense.
Your comment history says otherwise.
Oh, and there are only 6 Million people there.
California is pushing 40,000,000 so do you think they will let you invade their country if you want to?
This whole Q is HS
Stop fantasizing because it will not ever happen.
Now a thawing Greenland will need help as it becomes more popular for resources and it is better for North Americans to have control since Denmark can’t protect it or develop it.
I realize that one needs to be more intelligent than a rutabaga to understand this, but they aren’t actually intending to invade California (which isn’t a country).
Misleading statement. The average single worker in Denmark faced a net average tax rate of 36.0%. Danish law states that taxes cannot exceed 56% for any one person. US average tax rate is about 15% but that does not include healthcare, childcare, education from preschool through PhD, no one being homeless, free services for addiction, parental leave, pensions, elderly care facilities. So factor in the out of pocket costs that Americans pay for these services and tell me who has more money in the bank. Critical thinking is fun!
Tky is not a fan of critical thinking.
Do you live there?
You don’t know what you are talking about.
I realize that one needs to be more intelligent than a rutabaga to understand this, but it isn’t necessary to live somewhere in order to know things about it.
Here are some facts to consider when comparing our relatively low income tax rate with that of Denmark. Before I retired my employer -SB Unified School District- offered a selection of health insurance plans that nearly every single employee signed up for. The most economical one for me and my family cost 11% of my annual salary in premiums alone. Add to that the annual deductible and copays, another 6 or 7% of my annual salary. I never once in 30 years used up the annual deductible. That’s almost 18% of my annual salary taken, the great majority of it going straight into corporate profits, providing me with nothing more than the privilege of paying for most of my health care out of pocket. Our hc system is literally run on organized theft.
Add to that the 15-18% income tax and the cost of sending a child to a university, which was anywhere from 8-12% of my annual salary, and we’re getting pretty doggone close to what you mistakenly think a typical European pays in taxes, just for those 3 things.
Another government worker complaining about having to pay for benefits that most others don’t receive.
Government employees enjoy job stability, cost-of-living increases, 11 to 13 paid holidays (MarBorg employees get only five), two to six weeks of paid vacation, sick and personal days, guaranteed lifetime pensions, and no competition from private businesses. Most workers outside of government, government subsidized businesses, or government-protected monopolies (like MarBorg) receive fewer paid days off and far less, if any, dental and medical coverage.
Additionally, government employee benefits are tax-free. A private-sector worker must first pay FICA taxes on the income they use to buy health insurance and can only deduct medical expenses from taxable income if they exceed 10% of their income. For example, a self-employed person with $10,000 in annual health insurance costs must earn $11,765 just to cover it (minus FICA payment of $1,765).
Health insurance is no different from other types of insurance. Most homeowners pay tens of thousands of dollars for home insurance without ever filing a claim. Health care deductibles work the same way as car or home insurance deductibles—higher deductibles mean lower premiums. A zero-deductible plan is available, but it’s much more expensive—just like auto insurance.
Taxes function similarly. If you rarely use public health services, the majority of your medical tax contributions go straight into government coffers.
Many employees, especially government employees, don’t seem to understand how businesses operate. “The great majority of it goes straight into corporate profits.” In reality, the great majority of any insurance company’s costs are used to pay for legitimate claims. Unlike the government, private businesses are constrained by costs—if an insurance company fails to make a profit, it goes out of business.
If SBUSD (Santa Barbara Unified School District) needs more money to pay for employee benefits, the government will just raise taxes—something no private business can do.
Now, let’s talk about Denmark. Nordic countries have a more homogeneous culture, which studies have shown, fosters greater social trust and cohesion—both of which contribute to stronger economic and social wealth. And no other region in the world reaches Nordic levels of trust. People are far more willing to pay more to subsidize each other when they believe recipients will only take what is truly needed.
You state, “Our hc system is literally run on organized theft.”
Taxation is, quite literally, organized theft.
No health insurance company can break down your door, drag you out of your house, and confiscate your assets for failing to pay your debt—but the government can.
And, a lifelong government employee doesn’t contribute to the tax base—they consume it.
It’s only “theft” if you have no understanding of how civilized society works. Weird though, as I’ve seen a lot of people in Facebook comments starting to say this. A lot of stupid out there lately.
It’s the egotarians.
Taxation is theft??
Not much you can say about people who simply don’t understand civilization at its most basic level. Maybe they want to live alone in caves with none of the trappings of modern life. No social contracts for them!
The only difference between theft and the government confiscating your income or property is that theft is stealing without legal authority.
Also, even if you live alone in a cave, you’ll still be required to pay annual property taxes. Fail to do so, and your cave will be confiscated, and you’ll be forcibly removed. There’s no escaping the long arm of the law.
Taxes are a necessity, but the government’s role should be limited to protecting our rights (and country), upholding liberties, adjudicating contracts, and a few other things.
Not all civilizations are equally good. I understand freer civilizations are more prosperous, while restrictive civilizations may confiscate your property and directly or indirectly facilitate the killing of tens of millions of their own citizens–legally. Not all civilizations are civilized.
Apparently, no matter how hard you work to earn a living, your income isn’t truly yours—it (which includes your labor) belongs to the government, which decides how much of it you’re allowed to have for your own consumption. So, in a sense, we’re all subsidized by the government (which ironically has no money of its own).
And when did I sign this social contract?
Thank you for your comment.
“The only difference between theft and the government confiscating your income or property is that theft is stealing without legal authority….Taxes are a necessity, but the government’s role should be [what I say it should be in accord with my intellectually bankrupt ideology]”
So taxes are a necessity but that’s not a difference from theft?
There’s a term for this sort of self-contradictory nonsense: INTELLECTUAL DISHONESTY.
“when did I sign this social contract?”
You’re welcome to give up all of its benefits–including protection from theft. Without that social contract, everyone else in society would be free to take from you everything you have.
https://www.quora.com/Is-it-really-fair-to-say-the-social-contract-theory-is-an-agreement-when-you-and-I-were-born-into-it-and-didnt-have-any-say-in-it
I’ll bet you have a “who is john galt?” bumpersticker
You really don’t use your thinking cap much, just regurgitating nonsensical libertarian claptrap.
Oh, yeah, let’s make all tax paying voluntary.
That’s the answer.
Some involuntary taxation is necessary to fund essential government functions, but certain taxes are specifically designed to discourage behavior—such as the cigarette tax. The more you tax something, the less you get of it. Work and investment should be encouraged, not penalized.
So, perhaps we tax consumption instead of income. But—and this is a big but—we should never adopt a value-added tax (VAT), only a straightforward sales tax. Sales tax transparency allows taxpayers to see exactly how much the government has added to the cost of a product or service. But, what do I know.
You don’t know much. Way too many words to just ask that question.
Delusional nonsense from the con fantasy sphere, as we’ve come to expect from someone who know no better and suffers from chronic logorrhea.
“Mistakenly think” just about sums it up nicely.
And you don’t understand facts. If your nephew is actually being taxed 56% then he is making a lot of more money than the average Dane and he is likely benefitting from all the free social services that America does not offer. I’d happily pay 56% in taxes if I received everything Danish people received because my out of pocket costs for social services is much greater than 56% in taxes.
You must not make much money at all if that’s the case. Doesn’t add up unless you make very little. How do you even afford to live here in such a very expensive place?
Do try to follow along, and not just post non-sequiturs.
Great idea! Unite with the civilized part of the world!
Sounds good to me. Then we seal ALL of our borders and stop sending my tax dollars to a bunch of red state parasites.
The way democrats have worked to destroy our once great State that might not be such a bad idea. Maybe they can fix things, Newsom couldn’t.
Fantasy bubble time!
Zippy the ___head says words.
The Cheato-in-Charge gets crazier every day. You can’t make this stuff up! No one would believe it. Why does anybody even bother reporting on it as other than the rantings of a delusional emperor with no clothes?
You simple minded-media-swallowers just don’t “get it”… Trumps entire goal with the “Buy Greenland/We want Greenland” dialog was to bring up the strategic importance of Greenland and the surrounding Labrador Sea. CHINA, our real adversary, has it’s sights on control (buying land/investing) in Greenland (and the Panama Canal). This would be devestating to North American Trade, Military positioning and influence… It’s called FOREIGN POLCY- somethng the previous administation was asleep at the wheel with. Trump’s comments on Greenland had immediate results. Denmark re-evaluated Greenland and wrote a check for millions to Greenland and it’s people for much needed infrastructure as they were treated like Denmark’s red-headed step child… With regard to the Panama Canal, Marco Rubio went there within two weeks of Trump taking office and change the “sphere of influence” that China was establishing over the last 4 years and quashed it… Yeah, we now have U.S. Foreign Policy – Next up, end the War in Ukraine and stabilize the region with negotiations.
Coast – Mr. Coast, would you like another glass of Kool-Aid?
@175Films- Please enlighten me as to where I am wrong. Did Denmark not immediately give millions to Greenland? Did Greenland come to the forefront of awareness of how important, yet neglected it has been? Did China not want to invest and control Greenland territories just as they started doing in the Panama Canal…? Pull your head out.
Coast – Your pitcher of Kool-Aid is the one labeled “Yeah, we now have U.S. Foreign Policy”.
And the adding and repealing then adding then repealing tariffs is just smart business right? Hahahahaha
Anon – Do the tariffs, no matter how they are structured, appear to be working to the benefit of all Americans? Do you believe Putin, you know the guy you believe is pulling Trumps strings will “cave in” to avoid tariffs Trump has threatened to impose?
DOOLEY – Do you think they’re helping Americans? Explain how increasing the cost of goods is a benefit. Well, rather threatening to, then chickening out while Canada leaves their retaliatory tariffs and economic measures in place because Trump is so clearly deranged and unreliable.
https://www.murphy.senate.gov/newsroom/press-releases/murphy-six-weeks-in-this-white-house-is-on-its-way-to-being-the-most-corrupt-in-us-history
https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2025/mar/07/transgender-women-prison-trump
Doulie, no the on and off and on and off whiplash tariff non strategy is not helping Americans.
Don’t take the bait and end up as another caught “media fish.” Just need to keep up with double-switcheroo, triple-switcheroo, and quadruple-switcheroonies. LISTENING carefully and and reading between are skills that not many have.
Skills, along with critical interpretation of facts, that you are obviously unfamiliar with.
Anon: “Familiarity breeds contempt,” which means the more/longer you get to know someone, the more likely it is that you will not care for that person. As you say, everyone has differing levels of “critical interpretation.” This is the absolute basis for having different opinions and should be encouraged. What should NOT be encouraged is disparaging those with whom we disagree and believe to be wrong. We need more positive vibes…..not the negative vibes. Peach (peace) out!
Fantasy is not critical thinking.
….between the lines….
Trump’s tropes are just a new kind of imperialism. We can buy minerals without buying the country if we have free trade (sans tariffs) at a lot less cost than running a new territory. We also don’t need the whole ice sheet to military bases. We already have a huge presence on the island and a lease to stay there. Remember Guantanamo and our continued occupation of that part of Cuba. Mostly this is red meat to the easily distracted. If the GOP is truly in favor free markets why would they want the government to seize it for them?
The moron probably thinks Greenland is “yuge”, because it looks that way on the usual map projection.
Where have you been? Trump already ended the war in Ukraine in late January. They have been living in peace for the last six weeks.
https://www.murphy.senate.gov/newsroom/press-releases/murphy-six-weeks-in-this-white-house-is-on-its-way-to-being-the-most-corrupt-in-us-history
It’s completely insane to think that prior to the last election EVERYONE knew full well before they voted that this most likely would be the most corrupt White House in history. The America that we once knew is no longer.
Maybe not all caps everyone, but certainly a large majority knew it, and certainly larger than the vote tally appears to indicate. Some people actually preferred the corrupt state because they believed they would benefit from it, and some of those people gave many, many millions to the campaign to hoodwink the less informed. All of us were lied to constantly by the Trump campaign, and far too many people were too gullible, uninformed, and/or lazy to see the truth. It only took a bit over 31% of voters to put this criminal in the White House. Using the term “everyone” may be hyperbole, but not insane.
Okay….many people (instead of EVERYONE) knew what was going to happen. If people are upset now with the way things are going, wait until the orange appoints another one or two (three?) Supreme Court justices. My guess is that it will only be one, but who knows. If that happens, it’s not going to be pretty.
Oh. because it’s so pretty now. The quality of thought behind your comments is just laughable.
The Trump administration is simply ignoring court orders, so this will make little difference as long as the fascists are in office … which may be forever. But even if we do manage to dislodge them from control of the executive and legislative branches then we will have a SCOTUS dominated by right wingers for the indefinite future … Thomas certainly, Alito probably, and Roberts possibly will resign and be replaced by far younger and even further right (in Roberts’ case) justices before Democrats take control of the White House and Senate. Sotomayor, Kagan, and Jackson will of course hang on as long as they can, but if Roberts is replaced they will be relegated to only writing dissents, occasionally joined by Barrett who does show a smattering of a conscience when religion isn’t involved.
BEES – anyone who voted for Trump knew it. It’s what they wanted. Stop making excuses for them.
Sacjon: Excuses are coming from those who are trying to figure what the heck went wrong and still cannot comprehend why we are where we are. It starts with a bit of humility, a LOT of soul searching, and honest (key word: honest) conversation with ourselves. It’s simply a matter of acceptance and moving forward (as in, turn the page) in a positive manner. This is easy to do for some, but for others….not so much. Move forward and don’t dwell (obsess) on the past too much.
What’s frightening is the future under orange moronism.
We can choose to be frightened or to fight. I choose to fight. Do what you think is best for you, but giving up is not an option for me.
Non-sequitur.
And you seem to have a pretty wishy-washy idea of what fighting is.
Be my guest to remain in “the dumps.” Hold your head high and don’t be frightened. FDR once said, “We have nothing to fear except fear itself.” Great words from a great leader. May I suggest not getting all worked up over horrible words from a terrible orange leader. It is up to each of us to be steadfast in the face of evil. No reason at all to be frightened about things that m-i-g-h-t happen.
You have all the prescience of the proverbial ostrich.
“May I suggest not getting all worked up”
This is what you call fighting?
“things that m-i-g-h-t happen”
Things that are happening now, despite such denials from ignoramuses.
FDR’s next words were “nameless, unreasoning, unjustified terror which paralyzes needed efforts to convert retreat into advance” … he was talking about panic, and specifically about bank runs–the words are from 1933. No one even moderately intelligent or intellectually honest takes FDR’s hyperbole literally, or as a condemnation of fear–notably, that would make the statement self-condemning.
People fight for what they are afraid to lose. You are complacent and are choosing not only not to fight but to attack others who are choosing to.
So why don’t we see honest conversation from you?
Like so many of your comments, that’s an absurd strawman; NO ONE has claimed that everyone knew. But everyone SHOULD have known.
Here’s a sane view of what people knew: https://fredericpoag.substack.com/p/trump-voters-knew-what-they-were
Boot licker for the billionaire class. They will never care about you.
Alexblue: You certainly called the bootlicking out correctly and those who simply do not care one bit about others. If ever there were an example of billionaire bootlicking bootlickers:
“Visits to Mar-a-Lago from Mark Burnett and Jeff Bezos have paid off.
Starting today, Donald Trump’s original TV series “The Apprentice,” produced by Burnett will stream on Amazon Prime…….
“Bezos, meantime, has sucked up to Trump like crazy, paying visits to him at Mar-a-Lago and paying a whopping $40 million for a documentary about Trump’s mostly AWOL wife, Melania. Could this be part of that package? It’s possible.”