Ireland named Best Country to live .

[Darkwave]

Ireland is named 'best country'

http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/europe/4020523.stm


Dubliners have reason to be cheerful, the survey finds
Ireland is the best place to live in the world, according to a "quality of life" assessment by Economist magazine.
The country's combination of increasing wealth and traditional values gives it the conditions most likely to make its people happy, the survey found.

Ireland was followed by Switzerland, Norway and Luxembourg. All but one of the top 10 were European countries.

The USA languished in 13th, while Britain was 29th - the lowest of the pre-expansion EU nations.

'TOP TEN COUNTRIES'
1 Ireland
2 Switzerland
3 Norway
4 Luxembourg
5 Sweden
6 Australia
7 Iceland
8 Italy
9 Denmark
10 Spain

The survey was prepared for the Economist's "World in 2005" publication, with the remit: "Where will be the best place to live in 2005?"

Researchers took into account not just income, but other factors considered important to people's satisfaction and well-being.

They included health, freedom, unemployment, family life, climate, political stability and security, gender equality and family and community life.

The Economist said: "Ireland wins because it successfully combines the most desirable elements of the new, such as low unemployment and political liberties, with the preservation of certain cosy elements of the old, such as stable family and community life."

The magazine admits that measuring quality of life is not a straightforward thing to do, and that its findings will have their critics - "except, of course, in Ireland".

Breakdown in Britain

The Republic has made significant gains from its membership of the EU, earning the soubriquet Celtic Tiger for its economic progress.

Commentators say it is widely admired by the EU's newest members, and has become a model for what they hope to achieve.

Although European nations generally do well in the survey, the continent's major industrial powers of France, Germany and Britain finish 25th, 26th and 29th respectively.

The researchers said although the UK achieved high income per head, it had high levels of social and family breakdown.

The worst of the 111 countries to live in was considered to be Zimbabwe, "where things have gone from bad to worse under [President] Robert Mugabe".

[Bitter Almonds]

Thanks, but no thanks. I like it here in Southern California and I don't think there's another place in the world where I could live the quality of life I have at the moment. If things turn for the worse, though, I'll keep Ireland, the Mediterranean, and

[ebbhead]

XXX, Ireland is not at all a homogenous country anymore...certainly not in their cities at least. Due to huge gains in the tech sector over the last couple of decades and the incorporation into the EU, Ireland has a diverse population from Africa, Asia a

[human clone]

I have been to Ireland it is absolutley beautiful. Scenic, friendly people, great food and beer, interesting culture, I would move there in a second. There is a country that is more concerned about the quality of life, rather than wealth. If any of you

[Bitter Almonds]

[quote][i]Originally posted by ebbhead[/i]
<br>XXX, Ireland is not at all a homogenous country anymore...certainly not in their cities at l

[MARV]

I'm sorry but I actually called Dublin my home from 1985-1986 and I would never call it the "best country". I've never met more people who were not just anti American (as they're gobbling up their McDonald's cheeseburgers and running to see the latest Hol

[phillyidol]

Sorry but I think America is the best! We can compare any country and we have the same stuff here. Warm beaches, hot climates, snow, forests, mountains, we have it all. We have the best of all worlds in our own borders. I have traveled the world and there

[Jimbo]

Ireland?
Ireland!
IRELAND!?

I gotta agree with marvymarv.
I never lived there but his assessment was straight on with my experience and some of those of my family, and most of my relatives are from there.
There was a karmic reason England oppressed

[phillyidol]

Originally posted by Jimbo

There was a karmic reason England oppressed them all those years. [;)]
The Celtic word for the combined terms of boredom and stagnation is Ireland. OK, I made that one up.

NOW THAT WAS FUNNY! I'm still laughing at the ce

[MARV]

[quote][i]Originally posted by phillyidol[/i]
<br>Originally posted by Jimbo

There was a karmic reason England oppressed them all those

[Jimbo]

Thanks guys!
Had they picked almost any other country I would have thought: hummm... maybe, but this story (and ones like it) are some of the reasons I don't read the Economist anymore.
The nutty high subscription fees had a lot to do with that decision

[dcs84]

I've lived in a lot of places around the world, and the one truism that I've found is that if you have a lot of money anywhere in the world can be a great place to live. Whether it be gated communities in Caracas, Venezuela, or the rich privileged suburb