Americans Happy, but Think Country’s on Wrong Course
This new AP-Yahoo! News poll shows that while 66 percent of Americans say they are happy, 77 percent think the country is heading in the wrong direction. This is, in a nutshell, why Sachs-Stevenson lost the Economist happiness debate. Right now, many Americans are unhappy with their position in the political and economic cycles. But Americans are a happy people, with a sense of control over their lives. This high level of personal satisfaction is the consequence of an optimistic culture and stable institutions that create wealth and opportunity. Dissatisfaction with the way things are going will change soon enough, Americans know it, and that’s why it doesn’t actually get us down.
November 24th, 2007 19:59
“This high level of personal satisfaction is the consequence of an optimistic culture and stable institutions and that create wealth and opportunity.”
Will, seems like you want to identify happiness with “a particular nation-state”! (Really, this is no sillier than your remarks about Paul.)
November 24th, 2007 20:01
Gene, I don’t understand what you’re saying.
Anyway, I don’t think the happiness of Americans is any more or less important than the happiness of anyone else.
November 24th, 2007 21:17
Nor does Ron Paul think the liberty of Americans is any more or less important than the liberty of anyone else.
December 3rd, 2007 14:00
I think that says something great about America. Happiness shouldn’t be determined by external forces. Happiness is a state of being. And one hopes that happiness moves inside out and will put us back on the right track.