So while, admittedly, those Scandinavians have it pretty good, the rest of us aren't too far behind. And that's something to be happy about.

Social mobility was nearly impossible in feudal Europe, but many nations there today, especially northern Europe, have more social elasticity than the United States.

If Europe follows America into recession, which is quite possible, the pain will be a lot greater in the Mediterranean countries than in Germany and northern Europe.

In the north, there is a vast region of prosperity, a zone of Nordic dynamism.

But Scandinavian Airlines said it planned to operate flights Sunday night from the United States to Oslo and Stockholm.