We're Number . . . 17?

...on the Economist's Democracy Index.

The statistical detail in the article is a wee bit eye-glazing (it's an index in the Economist, for pete's sake), but it's really very interesting to see where countries stand next to one another in areas such as political participation, free elections, a functioning government and civil liberties. Here's the top ten, for your perusal:

Sweden
Iceland
Netherlands
Norway
Denmark
Finland
Luxembourg
Australia
Canada
Switzerland

Those Swedes better watch out. If word gets out about this, someone might start hating them for their freedoms.