Conservatives are Happier than Liberals

American Enterprise Institute ^ | 20 June 08 | foutsc

[foutsc]

We must hold our leaders accountable for the facts on happiness and refuse to take it lightly when politicians abridge the values of faith, work, family, charity, and freedom. -- Arthur C. Brooks

[foutsc]

I'm a happy person. I like being around other happy people. Arthur C. Brooks has written a book entitled Gross National Happiness about happiness and how it affects societies. He identifies a "Happiness Gap" in America that splits religious conservatives and secular liberals. Guess who's happier?

Here are the factors he identifies as causing liberal unhappiness: - Secularism - Overreliance on government to solve your (and societies) problems - An addiction to security

Here are the factors he cites that make conservatives a happier group: - Faith in God - Work (job satisfaction) - Marriage and Family - Charitable giving and volunteering - Freedom (economic, political, religious)

This is just a very brief summary. For more entertaining details, read his latest piece at AEI.

This backs up what I've believed for a long time. People who expect things from government are angry because they are disappointed. On the other hand, people who go out and git'r done for themselves are much happier. Many of the latter group don't have much, but what they got is theirs and they got it fair and square through their own hard work. That and a loving belief in God Almighty brings a satisfied happiness that no government program can ever hope to match.

[Southerngl]

That’s because we aren’t eyeballing everyone else for A)what they have that we don’t, and B) if we want it, we go out and get it rather than whine about how someone else has it

[ripley]

liberals are not happy because they are psychotic.

IMHO

[gorush]

Having been both, I can attest to the accuracy of this conjecture.

[nascent skeptic]

Liberals ultimately are arguing for their own limitations and the limitations of others, which makes it harder to be positive and successful.

[beckysueb]

Conservatives are happier than liberals for now. Just wait till Osama Obama grabs the WH.