originally posted in:Psykana Librarius
[url]http://www.bbc.com/news/magazine-22751415[/url]
[quote]For 75 years, Finland's expectant mothers have been given a box by the state. It's like a starter kit of clothes, sheets and toys that can even be used as a bed. And some say it helped Finland achieve one of the world's lowest infant mortality rates.
It's a tradition that dates back to the 1930s and it's designed to give all children in Finland, no matter what background they're from, an equal start in life.
The maternity package - a gift from the government - is available to all expectant mothers.
It contains bodysuits, a sleeping bag, outdoor gear, bathing products for the baby, as well as nappies, bedding and a small mattress.
With the mattress in the bottom, the box becomes a baby's first bed. Many children, from all social backgrounds, have their first naps within the safety of the box's four cardboard walls. [/quote]
Further on in the article...
[quote]At a certain point, baby bottles and dummies were removed to promote breastfeeding.
"One of the main goals of the whole system was to get women to breastfeed more," Pulma says. And, he adds, "It's happened."
He also thinks including a picture book has had a positive effect, encouraging children to handle books, and, one day, to read.
And in addition to all this, Pulma says, the box is a symbol. A symbol of the idea of equality, and of the importance of children.[/quote]
I like this, I like this a lot.
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Hence why Scandinavian countries are the best in the world.
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That's really cool. Thank you for showing me this, I learned something new today.
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Americans call this "socialism" and immediately become afraid of ideas like this.
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If they did this here in America, that box would get sold for crack and 40's.
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Edited by Beastbatch: 1/19/2015 7:25:04 AMThe mortality rate has gone down In every stable country because technology enhances. Welcome. to .the .future *nice little future sounds*
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Very good idea. To bad the US is too damn broke to afford it. Yknow, cuz they spend it on stupid shut an stuff. Il tell you this. My dad works carpeting and recently has been on military bases a lot. He has told me that he has seen so much good almost new stuff thrown away because they were either getting new ones or it had a dent in it. They throw away $100 dollar chairs and the big heavy expensive doors like they have all the money in the country (oh wait they do). Short story shorter. The US government is the biggest, richest, spoiled, most powerful 'person' in the country since it was founded. There, I'm done
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I like those new ratios.
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>have babby >pawn off everything from the package >put babby in box >send down river
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My hospital gives out a very similar package, minus the box/crib thing. Our is in a bag. Damn catholic nuns giving a shit.
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Inb4 Xboxdotcom
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Level 32 German looking to destroy Poland's Legacy. GT: xxBlitzKriegxx
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Infinate sleep In carboard boxes what is this Africa
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Waste of money. Don't care if a newborn dies right out of birth. You can make more.
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It is much easier to implement a system like this when your population is only 5.439 million. It would be a very different story putting a system in place in the US with a population of 316.1 million. And I would not want my taxes raised for a program like this.
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It's a good system for them, but I question it's effectiveness in other countries, should it be introduced to those countries.
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Good find Progo!
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bazinga!
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This is adorable.
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I would be for this, the only thing is that they're population is a fraction of the US's.
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Finland is life.
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Finland, Sweden, Switzerland, and other such European countries are on the forefront of economic progression. Some of these countries have the highest taxes in the world, but have the happiest citizens. Why? Because these countries use those tax dollars to help their citizens rather than waste it on war industry and other bullshit like America does.
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inb4 feminists stop breast feeding But still, that's a pretty damn good Idea.
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Essentially, good for them. If this is a "USA should do this" thread like a lot of these are, then I would say that it goes against the constitution, but then so does a lot of things....
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Careful, they're planning some gr8 b8.
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Take notes 'Merica.