The Top Democratic Socialist Countries in the World

Denmark

Denmark has a wide range of welfare benefits that they offer their citizens. As a result, they also have the highest taxes in the world. Equality is considered the most important value in Denmark. Small businesses thrive, with over 70 percent of companies having 50 employees or less.



Amagertorv in Copenhagen, Denmark (image CC BY 2.0 by Furya via Wikimedia Commons)


Finland

Finland has one of the world’s best education systems, with no tuition fees and also giving free meals to their students. The literacy rate in Finland is 100 percent. Finland has one of the highest standards of living in the world. Like Denmark and other European countries, equality is considered one of the most important values in society. Whereas in the Netherlands, government control over the economy remains at a minimum, but a socialist welfare system remains. The lifestyle in the Netherlands is very egalitarian and organized, where even bosses do not discipline or treat their subordinates rudely.



Paasitorni by the Sea in Helsinki, Finland (Image CC BY-SA 3.0 by Kati Kosonen via Wikimedia Commons)


Canada

Like the Netherlands, Canada also has mostly a free market economy, but has a very extensive welfare system that includes free health and medical care. Canadians remain more open-minded and liberal than Americans, and Canada is ranked as one of the best top five countries to live in by the United Nations and the Human Development Index (HDI) rankings.




Sweden

Sweden has a large welfare system, but due to a high national debt, required much government intervention in the economy. In Norway, the government controls certain key aspects of the national economy, and they also have one of the best welfare systems in the world, with Norway having one of the highest standards of living in all of Europe. Norway is not a member of the European Union.




Ireland

Ireland has arguably one of the best welfare systems in the world, with unemployment checks higher on average than Denmark or Switzerland’s average. Around 25 percent of Ireland’s GDP goes towards paying for the welfare system, as compared to 15 percent of America’ GDP towards America’s social support programs.




New Zealand

New Zealand may not be a socialist country, but the welfare system in the country is very wide ranging, offering support for housing, unemployment, health, child care, and education as well. Therefore, New Zealand has many of the characteristics of a socialist country, even while remaining officially free market.



The location of Hobbiton, as used in the Lord of the Rings films. Near Matamata in New Zealand (image CC BY 2.0 by Rob Chandler via Wikimedia Commons)


Belgium

Lastly, Belgium has most of the same social security benefits that New Zealand offers, including invalid and old age pensions. The welfare system causes much of the country’s budget deficit though, and so is considered by some to be a burden on society.



Het Plein at the Hague, Belgium (image: CC BY 2.0 by zoetnet via Wikimedia Commons)







The trouble is, there are people who are so unintelligent that they don't know the difference between Socialism and Democratic Socialism.

Now, what does it say on my Labour Membership form? Oh yes, The Labour Party is a Democratic Socialist Party.

Where is the link, because the above claim is laughable?