Want to be happy? Go Republican

[Tramspotter]

Evil Republicans have the Happiness Edge

[Nephythys]

[Not Afraid]

Ignorance is bliss.

[sleepyjeff]

Originally Posted by Not Afraid

Ignorance is bliss.

lol

However...from that same study--- http://pewresearch.org/social/chart.php?ChartID=29

So, I guess ignorance is really not bliss. Or, at least not as blissful as knowledge

[Ghoulish Delight]

Canadians like to say that the difference between American and Canada is that America is all about "the pursuit of happiness", while Canada is all about just being happy.

[Tramspotter]

Originally Posted by Ghoulish Delight

Canadians like to say that the difference between American and Canada is that America is all about "the pursuit of happiness", while Canada is all about just being happy.

Canadians eh?

Well I like to say: Who the F#ck gives a sh!t about what condecending Canadian's think. I happen to know they have a lot of Ice Holes up there.

Have you actually heard more than one Canadian say this? Read the quote somewhere or? (Just curious)

[Ghoulish Delight]

Originally Posted by Tramspotter

Canadians eh?

Well I like to say: Who the F#ck gives a sh!t about what condecending Canadian's think. I happen to know they have a lot of Ice Holes up there.

Have you actually heard more than one Canadian say this? Read the quote somewhere or? (Just curious)

More of a pithyism I picked up than anything. The Canada part of it is really irrelevant, just a viceral way of packaging the sentiment and play off the pseudo-rivalry. I don't remember where I first heard it.

To me, what's essential is the somewhat erronious idea that happiness needs to be persued. Happiness can be found anywhere. It seems that too many people equate "inconvenienced" with "unhappy".

[Tramspotter]

Originally Posted by Ghoulish Delight

To me, what's essential is the somewhat erroneous idea that happiness needs to be perused. Happiness can be found anywhere. It seems that too many people equate "inconvenienced" with "unhappy".

Ah I see, and taken in the context of our time I would agree with you I would even go further and say that being distracted or having fun is often a superficial path to true happiness and contentment. It is indeed a serious problem for America in particular.

However; if you put it into a historical context and look at the framers break from old world society and even how American society differs from many present world nations and realize that being free to peruse your own choices gives us an opportunity to seek fulfillment in ways that not everyone on this rock are able and that is not trivial nor an ideal that any of us in my opinion should be so quick to discard simply because so many fail at (or make choices you don't agree with) or even take for granted the wonderful opertunities that a government based on and respectful of freedom of choice can entail.

[Matterhorn Fan]

Pet owners are no happier than those without pets.

That one kinda suprised me. Maybe the dogs were barking and the cats were puking when the pet owners took the survey?

[Ghoulish Delight]

Originally Posted by Matterhorn Fan

That one kinda suprised me. Maybe the dogs were barking and the cats were puking when the pet owners took the survey?

Hmm. What about, as a subset, people who don't own pets but WANT pets vs. people who don't own pets and don't care. In America, there's very little stopping people from owning a pet, so those that would be happier with a pet can get one, and those that wouldn't don't.