On this day of America’s "birth", amidst the explosions and the scarfing down of high calorie consumables, you wonder if it all was worth it. Are we really any happier than the rest of the world? Well, according to a recent study by the University of Michigan’s World Values Survey, Americans are happier than over 80 countries, but only in 16th place overall in terms of feeling "happy". But, no matter where you live, for the most part, people around the world have been getting happier in the years 1981 - 2007, the years the survey was conducted.
Either that, or we know which countries lie the most on surveys about how happy they are.
Something Is Not Rotten In Denmark
Despite literature’s most famous depressive, Prince Hamlet of Denmark, it turns out he is not an accurate portrayal of the people now living in Denmark. This is because in the study, Denmark was the happiest country in the world. This is because, like other countries in the top ten, the citizens not only have access to money, but they also are allowed the freedom to express themselves.
Oddly enough (or perhaps not), the countries that allow homosexual relationships to exist are the happiest countires in the world. It’s no wonder homosexuals are called "gay". Also, all of the happiest countries were democracies.
Other happy countries include:
- Iceland
- Ireland
- Sweden
- The Netherlands
- Canada
- Puerto Rico
Not surprisingly, the saddest country was Zimbabwe. It is unknown whether anyone from Myanamar (Burma) was even allowed to participate.
We’re Number 16!
I wonder if one of the reasons the above countries are more happy than America is, well, because they’re not America. Americans polled after the Iraq war started were far les happy than those before the war started. Also, the report notes that the crappy economy and record high number of foreclosures also made Americans pretty worried to the point where it hurt their overall sense of personal peace.
As U2’s Bono sings, "It’s no secret that a conscious can sometimes be a pest".
But at least we have the freedom to complain. Sometimes, that’s enough for me to be happy!
(No Ratings Yet)
Loading ...
To be notified by email when there are new blog entries, 
One Comment
Write a Comment»I would suggest that there is a severe disconnect between what people say and how they truly feel. People who say they are happy are people who are content with what they have and have no hope for anything more. Americans always are striving for more, better, faster, bigger, etc. We are happy but we are never content to stop trying to get more.