In reading my local paper yesterday (yes, I was reading an actual newspaper - the one that I just subscribed to for $13 a year) anyway, I ran across an article with the title, "Can Democrats Close the Happiness Gap?" by Robert Rector, a former Editor for the Los Angeles Times. In the article, Mr. Rector sites a recent survey conducted by Pew Research Center .




The basics?

Americans grow happier as they grow older -
Is this because they no longer remember real happiness or when gas cost $.87 a gallon?
The rich are happier than the poor -
Is this because gas no longer costs $.87 a gallon?
Married people are happier than unmarried people -
No comment.
and...
Republicans are happier than Democrats -
In many parts of my home state of California, "Dem's fightin' words."

Fascinating points and I would be interested in learning how other human beings feel about any one of these statements. I guess not all Republicans are ornery. About 45% of polled Republicans said they were happy, versus the 30% of Democrats that made the same claim, just less often. So, if you go back to the second point, that money brings happiness, you may be tempted to think that Republicans tend to have more money, so therefore...(dot dot dot)

But here is the "richest" statement of all,

"Poor Republicans are happier than poor Democrats and Rich Republicans are happier than Rich Democrats." Here are some other tidbits that this study supposedly revealed:
Republicans:
~Have more money
~Have more friends
~Are more religious
~Are healthier
~Are more likely to be married
~Like their communities better
~Like their jobs better
~Are more satisfied with their family life
~Like the weather better
and ~Are more likely to feel that an individual is responsible for his own success or failure

And this survey actually coincides with others that address, not just Americans, but those around the world, that Conservatives are happier than Liberals.

Interesting fodder. And to think, this paper will line someone's bird cage or puppy box.
No further questions about the severely reduced newspaper delivery rates...

Any thoughts, my happy, happy friends?

"For a charm of powerful trouble,
Like a hell-broth boil and bubble.
Double, double toil and trouble;
Fire burn, and caldron bubble." ~William Shakespeare

I guess someone's just gotta always be stirring the pot. Amazing that it happens somewhere other than RBC.

by rayanne thorn