[SM9WI8oI]

It has the lowest tax burden, the highest amount of Christians, hasn't legalised gay marriage and is also the least multicultural.

I had a conversation with a Finn on another forum about this, and he get a bit annoyed I was suggesting his country was conservative, I think he was some left-wing pansy though. He said to me

Lowest taxes? Are you absolutely sure? Taxes are with what the public schools, universities and public healthcare (all free by the way) are run, so please re-check your facts. And for multiculturalism, we do have lots of foreigners living here, many of them being Catholic and Islamic for example. Again, please double check your sources of information. To which I responded.

I think you need to get your facts straight mate. Finland's tax burden is about 32%, compared to Sweden and Denmark's which is about 50% and out of all the Noridc countries you're the only one that doesn't allow gay marriage.

Also, Finland is about 94% Finnish and 5% Finland-Swede, actual foreigners make up no more than 1.5% of the population.

Finland is without a doubt the most conservative Nordic country. Prove me wrong why don't you. You won't because you know I'm right, you just don't like it. So, is it reasonable for me to claim that Finland is the most conservative Nordic country?

[Suentiend]

Yes, Finland is most conservative Nordic country. Unfortunately rest of the Nordic countries are extremely un-conservative. This means that Finland is not really that conservative.

[HaseBeceDeemy]

Nope. They are ruled by two lesbian women both prime minister and president.

[TineSeign]

It has the lowest tax burden, the highest amount of Christians, hasn't legalised gay marriage and is also the least multicultural. Yes, I think it is.

[CicyHannyCeli]

I don't get why Northern European react so adversely to being called Conservative, is it really that bad a lable?

I didn't use "conservative" in a derogatory fashion at all and this guy really seemed to take offense.

[ThzinChang]

No, Iceland is the most conservative country (apart from being very feministic).

But Iceland has least multiculturalism in Northen Europe, and is the only Nordic country without a mosque.

---------- Post added 2010-10-18 at 12:05 ----------

Why do you guys forget to include Iceland in Northern Europe? Iceland actually exists.

[mXr8icOB]

Finland also has a very strong pro-gun, pro-tobacco culture.

But then again that goes hand in hand with their astronomical suicide rate. So, yeah. Finland is definitely more traditional than the Scandinavians are.

[mitiaycatq]

Pro-tobacco?? Finland's newest idea is to make it tougher and tougher for the smokers, their goal seem to be to have no smokers left in the future. Saw it on the news, and I will find sources when I have time for it.

Finland also have limited access to alcohol, you can only buy it in special stores that has a monopoly. That is the same in Norway, Sweden and Iceland but not in Denmark.

Denmark is the most continental Nordic country at least.

Btw, Finland's anti-immigration party has exceeded 10 % of the voters support, next election is next autumn (right?). There couldn't be a popular party critical to immigration if the ammount of unproductive foreigners wasn't any problem.

[pharweqto]

Finland also has a very strong pro-gun, pro-tobacco culture.

But then again that goes hand in hand with their astronomical suicide rate.

What do you mean when you say it goes hand in hand?

[drugstore]

They are quite conservative, they even have an official Islamic party http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Finnish_Islamic_Party LOL!

[ReggieRed]

What do you mean when you say it goes hand in hand?

Guns and snus aren't part of a healthy lifestyle. Compare to American southerners.

[picinaRefadia]

Guns and snus aren't part of a healthy lifestyle. Compare to American southerners.

Snus is forbidden in Finland though. Finns who use it are mainly buying it from Swedes who come to Finland with loaded trucks. Or they just go to Sweden and smuggle it themselves. I think it is forbidden to buy it on the ferries nowadays.

Source: My "Sweden Finnish" uncle.

[tefraxKedWere]

If tax burden is so low, then why is Finland one of the most expensive countries in Europe, despite their wages being lower?

http://www.helsinkitimes.fi/htimes/d...-average-.html

[Tumarimmicdak]

Guns and snus aren't part of a healthy lifestyle. Compare to American southerners.

I must disagree when it comes to Finland. I don't think there is anything unhealthy about owning guns. Finns who own guns use them for hunting or hobby shooting (which is not the same as shooting empty cans in your backyard). There is nothing unhealthy about that.

I fail to see the connection between guns and suicides or guns and tobacco or tobacco and suicides.

[TagBahthuff]

Snus is forbidden in Finland though. Finns who use it are mainly buying it from Swedes who come to Finland with loaded trucks. Or they just go to Sweden and smuggle it themselves. I think it is forbidden to buy it on the ferries nowadays.

Source: My "Sweden Finnish" uncle.

Really? Why is it forbidden?

[invest7manager]

Why is red bull forbidden in Norway? Because nordic countries love to decide what their people shall eat and drink.

Jam, you can call yourself lucky to live in the most free nordic country.

[new-nickname-zanovo]

Snus: It may be legal, but nobody want to use it anyway.

[q9h9pPne]

Really? Why is it forbidden?

Selling snus is illegal at Denmark too. Sweden is the only place at EU where snus can be sold legally. Snus is quite popular at Finland.

Viking; You can buy snus from ferries when they reach Swedish waters. Smuggling snus has become new hobby for Finns. Back in the days it was alcohol, now snus. Oh the joys of forbidden fruit

[VemyhemiHef]

Yes, it is illegal to sell here too, because of an EU rule. The only reason why it's legal in Sweden is because of the sizeable user base or something. Quite a ridiculous ruling; it's forbidden in countries that don't use it anyway, but legal in the country that uses it.

Red Bull was recently made legal here, btw, it was illegal here too until last year.

[PetrZimin]

Yes, it is illegal to sell here too, because of an EU rule. The only reason why it's legal in Sweden is because of the sizeable user base or something. Quite a ridiculous ruling; it's forbidden in countries that don't use it anyway, but legal in the country that uses it.

Red Bull was recently made legal here, btw, it was illegal here too until last year.

That's the international community for you.

For countries that wouldn't engage in whaling anyway, it's illegal... but for countries that have fishermen who love to kill and eat whales, they're allowed to.