Author Topic: How Many More Times Does It Have to Be Spelled Out To You People?  (Read 8459 times)

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Brassmask

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http://www.crooksandliars.com/2008/02/18/dont-worry-be-happy/


I admit to being completely biased to the appeal of Denmark, as my family is Danish and I travel to Denmark as frequently as I am able to see them. But a recent study has borne out what I?ve experienced myself for years: the people of Denmark are the happiest people on Earth. (study here-U.S. is #26)

But Danish happiness is one that most Americans don?t seem to grasp, because most Americans confuse well being with being well off. Danish happiness is derived from lower expectations, rather than having to be #1. The need to be superlative is supplanted with a contentment of where you are and not needing to keep up with the Joneses. It is also a contentment of not worrying about some basic necessities: healthcare, childcare, education, retirement and long term care. Republicans are quick to demonize the socialism as something akin to the scary Red notion of communism, and it?s true that in a socialist democracy like Denmark, the average person is taxed at about 50%, which is uncomfortably high to our American ears, but ask yourself how much of your paycheck goes to health insurance, childcare, college savings plans and retirement accounts. Few people in the US can say that less than 50% of their paychecks don?t go towards those needs already. In fact, one of my friends discovered that they actually brought home more money by having the wife stay at home with the kids, because her entire paycheck went to childcare and costs relating to her work.

In The Science of Happiness, author Stefan Klein at this phenomena and comes to some conclusions on a meta-level on what creates happiness in a society and the results might surprise you. He finds that there are three critical standards that must be met: a civic sense, social equality and control over our own lives. The more participatory the democracy, the more equal the social and income distribution among the citizens and the more self-determination (meaning not being forced to do a job you dislike because you have to pay the bills), the happier the society is.

That?s not so scary, is it?   

You can get the full segment and transcripts on CBS.com


sirs

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Re: How Many More Times Does It Have to Be Spelled Out To You People?
« Reply #1 on: February 18, 2008, 02:33:26 PM »
Don't know what your problem is, Brass......I'm American & I'm happy      8)
"The worst form of inequality is to try to make unequal things equal." -- Aristotle

Brassmask

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Re: How Many More Times Does It Have to Be Spelled Out To You People?
« Reply #2 on: February 18, 2008, 02:38:52 PM »
Don't know what your problem is, Brass......I'm American & I'm happy      8)

As a people or a society, we're not the happiest.

sirs

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Re: How Many More Times Does It Have to Be Spelled Out To You People?
« Reply #3 on: February 18, 2008, 02:41:17 PM »
Don't know what your problem is, Brass......I'm American & I'm happy      8)

As a people or a society, we're not the happiest.

When did it become a competition??  Bottom line is that as a people/society, we have the freedom to pursue happiness.  There is no guarantee or right to happiness
"The worst form of inequality is to try to make unequal things equal." -- Aristotle

sirs

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Re: How Many More Times Does It Have to Be Spelled Out To You People?
« Reply #4 on: February 18, 2008, 02:54:40 PM »
As a people or a society, we're not the happiest.

Well, if you dissolve NY from the Union, we'd probably take back the #1 spot        ;D
"The worst form of inequality is to try to make unequal things equal." -- Aristotle

Brassmask

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Re: How Many More Times Does It Have to Be Spelled Out To You People?
« Reply #5 on: February 18, 2008, 03:14:25 PM »
Don't know what your problem is, Brass......I'm American & I'm happy      8)

As a people or a society, we're not the happiest.

When did it become a competition??  Bottom line is that as a people/society, we have the freedom to pursue happiness.  There is no guarantee or right to happiness

Who cares?  Maybe, democratically speaking, we as a nation might want to pursue happiness collectively.

I'm happy enough my own self, but I'd like to know that not only am I going to be ok in retirement and if I get sick and my kid is going to go to college but so IS EVERYONE ELSE'S.

Rich

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Re: How Many More Times Does It Have to Be Spelled Out To You People?
« Reply #6 on: February 18, 2008, 03:16:59 PM »
So move.

Xavier_Onassis

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Re: How Many More Times Does It Have to Be Spelled Out To You People?
« Reply #7 on: February 18, 2008, 03:21:24 PM »
As a people or a society, we're not the happiest.


Well, if you dissolve NY from the Union, we'd probably take back the #1 spot  

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Why would you say New Yorkers are happiest? NY has high taxes, crappy weather, and herdly the friendliest people in the world.

I've never lived in NY, but I think that Washington State and Oregon are happier than anywhere else I have lived. I really liked NM, too. Maryland and Florida are on a par with Virginia, and after that I'd say, West Virginia, Kansas, Missouri and Iowa.

As a rule, people W of the Mississippi are a lot friendlier than people east of it, except for WV, which is more like the midwest than VA or MD.  

I think Mexico can be a very happy place. If you have only lived in one place, I fail to see how you could make any valid comparison.

  
« Last Edit: February 18, 2008, 03:23:33 PM by Xavier_Onassis »
"Time flies like an arrow; fruit flies like a banana."

Christians4LessGvt

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Re: How Many More Times Does It Have to Be Spelled Out To You People?
« Reply #8 on: February 18, 2008, 03:27:54 PM »
if he really believed it he'd move to Denmark!
"studies" can show anything they want
more socialist dribble to push a fraud agenda
dogs are happy too, eat, sex, and sleep
no thanks, i don't want be a shitzu
"Mr. Gorbachev, tear down this wall!" - Ronald Reagan - June 12, 1987

sirs

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Re: How Many More Times Does It Have to Be Spelled Out To You People?
« Reply #9 on: February 18, 2008, 03:32:47 PM »
Don't know what your problem is, Brass......I'm American & I'm happy      8)

As a people or a society, we're not the happiest.

When did it become a competition??  Bottom line is that as a people/society, we have the freedom to pursue happiness.  There is no guarantee or right to happiness

Who cares?  Maybe, democratically speaking, we as a nation might want to pursue happiness collectively.

A), I never asked "who cares"? You can care and not be in some race to be #1 in perceived hapiness. 
and
B) Gonna advocate we legislate happiness now?  Spoken like a true member of the Borg.  Sorry Brass, I'm not planning on being assimilated to view happiness as you do.  Simple as that

"The worst form of inequality is to try to make unequal things equal." -- Aristotle

Brassmask

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Re: How Many More Times Does It Have to Be Spelled Out To You People?
« Reply #10 on: February 18, 2008, 03:33:53 PM »
if he really believed it he'd move to Denmark!
"studies" can show anything they want
more socialist dribble to push a fraud agenda
dogs are happy too, eat, sex, and sleep
no thanks, i don't want be a shitzu

The only thing about that is that I bet Denmark is smart about emigration and so they wouldn't just take any old anybody.


sirs

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Re: How Many More Times Does It Have to Be Spelled Out To You People?
« Reply #11 on: February 18, 2008, 03:35:19 PM »
As a people or a society, we're not the happiest.

Well, if you dissolve NY from the Union, we'd probably take back the #1 spot 

----------------------------------------------------------
Why would you say New Yorkers are happiest? NY has high taxes, crappy weather, and herdly the friendliest people in the world.

Reading for comprehension issues again, Xo?   ;)  Try re-reading what I wrote.  Ask Plane or Ami, if you need some help.

"The worst form of inequality is to try to make unequal things equal." -- Aristotle

BT

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Re: How Many More Times Does It Have to Be Spelled Out To You People?
« Reply #12 on: February 18, 2008, 03:38:33 PM »
Love it or leave it arguments are stupid.

The simple fact is that it doesn't matter if Denmark is ranked happier than America. What matters is if you are happy. And external influences like whether your neighbor is happy should have little to do with your own pursuit of happiness.




sirs

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Re: How Many More Times Does It Have to Be Spelled Out To You People?
« Reply #13 on: February 18, 2008, 03:44:41 PM »
The simple fact is that it doesn't matter if Denmark is ranked happier than America. What matters is if you are happy. And external influences like whether your neighbor is happy should have little to do with your own pursuit of happiness.

Not a better summation could be made

*golf clap*
"The worst form of inequality is to try to make unequal things equal." -- Aristotle

Xavier_Onassis

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Re: How Many More Times Does It Have to Be Spelled Out To You People?
« Reply #14 on: February 18, 2008, 03:50:58 PM »
Reading for comprehension issues again, Xo?     Try re-reading what I wrote.  Ask Plane or Ami, if you need some help.


======================================
I thought you meant that you were from NY and therefore you think that if NY were a separate country, it would contain the happiest people.

But if you aren't from NY, then I suppose you mean that (a) you believe that Americans USED TO BE the happiest people, and no longer are, because of all the unhappy New Yorkers, kvetching and complaining and bitching and stewing.
I tend to think that New Jerseyans are probably even less happy than New Yorkers. I recell a New Yorker cartoon, which had a drawing of Donna Karen, looking tearfully at the Staue of Liberty and the Manhattan skyline, wearing a t shirt labelled "DKNJ".

And yes, love it or leave it arguments are really dumb.


I have been presented with no proof whatever that Americans were ever the happiest people. I am happy enough personally, but I am not the competitive sort, and just being happy is fuine by me, I have no desire to be happier than any other person in particular, or even know how one might calculate this.

Perhaps the Danes have been happiest ever since the Nazis left. I imagine they were somewhat saddened by the Nazi occupation. During WWII I would imagine that the Swedes and the Swiss beat them out from 1941-45.

Bhutan is the only country trying for the happiness prize. Being Buddhist helps, I think. But I think tthat Bhutanese were not interviewed for this survey.

Americans came in 26th. That is pretty awful, but there are about 208 countries. I don't know how many were surveyed. It seems to have been only Europe and N. America.

I wonder what the happiest state is? Hawaii? Rhode Island? I really have no clue.
"Time flies like an arrow; fruit flies like a banana."