The Land of Opportunity vs Norwegian Prison

Reflections on the America as a land of opportunity, judged by American perceptions and reactions to Norwegian prison conditions.

Kitchen area in an apartment in Halden prison in Norway. Two inmates preparing food.

America prides itself as the land of opportunity. We are told that anyone can make it in America. Yet one of the most common remarks I hear from Americans watching documentaries of Norwegian prisons is that they think life inside looks better than their own. Many half-jokingly suggest that they would commit a crime if it landed them in Norwegian prison. They remark on all the free health care and education Norwegian prisoners get. They are basically expressing envy towards the opportunities given to prisoners in Norway. Opportunities it seems they don’t feel they share as a free man or woman in America.

Ironically, instead of making the American viewer realize they are getting a raw deal in the US, many of them are instead upset that Norwegian prisons do so much for their inmates. They often express anger on behalf of Norwegian taxpayers. Well, I am a Norwegian taxpayer, and I cannot say that I feel angry. It’s money well spent in my opinion.

What they should instead be upset about is that in the “land of opportunity” many free, law-abiding citizens are getting fewer opportunities than prisoners in another…