Linda Bowles Committed Suicide. I still miss reading her. A true loss.
Posted on 02/28/2006 8:54:57 AM PST by SirLinksalot
February 28th, 2006
Last week the Pew Research Center released a poll indicating that Republicans are happier people than Democrats. I have often observed this phenomenon, so it was of particular interest to me. If you are thinking it’s because we currently occupy the White House, you would be wrong. The Center states Republicans have been the happiest people, even when a Democrat is in the White House.
Could it be that we conservatives have a more positive world view? How about a more positive national view? A more positive view of religion? A more positive view of our careers? A more positive view of the future? Well, you get the idea.
Let’s compare. It would be difficult to consider yourself happy if you are convinced that your country consists of imperialist occupiers trying to take over the world. On the other hand, if you realize the true road to freedom happens when democracies lead to thriving societies, you’re feeling pretty good right now.
And how about the liberals’ view of our military? Torturers, mistreating not only prisoners of war, but women and children too. Wow! With this outlook it would definitely be time for some Prozac when the evening news starts. Conservatives believe our military exercises incredible restraint and consists of the best and the brightest we have to offer. We are eternally grateful to those who serve and we would never cavalierly try to tarnish their reputation. Starting to get the picture?
Let’s think about the environment. Liberals believe all the doom and gloom scenarios. We have ruined the earth, and by “we” of course I mean the United States of America. We rape and pillage mother earth, with technology and fossil fuel as our weapons. We pollute the water and the air to such an extent it’s amazing we have survived this long. It’s just a matter of time before the earth is uninhabitable.
By now, if you are a liberal you are really depressed. It must be hard to get out of bed in the morning.
Perhaps that would account for the fact that more conservatives actually have a job. I know you libs will be shocked by this, but most of us enjoy going to it! Taking responsibility for yourself brings satisfaction.
In reality, the U.S. has taken responsibility for cleaning up the environment. We have become a model for the world to learn from and have some of the best air and water quality of any industrialized nation on the planet. Have you seen any demonstrations lately against the world’s worst pollution offenders like China, India, and our friends to the south, Mexico? Oh sorry, I forgot it’s not politically correct to criticize any nation that doesn’t consist of a majority of white Christians. Got white Christians? Fair game, go ahead take your best shot. Slur away… absolutely nothing is off limits.
Finally, let’s talk about self esteem, politically speaking, of course. Not too long ago, the left thought self-esteem could be handed out like Ritalin to schoolkids.
Republicans, in general, are proud of who they are and what they believe in. They are not afraid to say they believe in God, and they don’t have a problem letting people know that they believe abortion (all to often used as a convenient form of birth control) is just wrong. They don’t try to conceal or sugar coat their ideals or their party’s platform with euphemisms like “choice.”
The Democrats on the other hand have a difficult time even defining their party’s platform. They will, however, fight to the end to make sure the perverts who commit the most horrific crimes imaginable don’t get put to death. Capital punishment, after all, is barbaric. But when it comes to the most innocent of all, the unborn fetus, well that must be a choice in a civilized society.
From my perspective, we have a choice each morning we’re lucky enough to open our eyes. We can look at our lives and society in a positive manner and work towards making a better world for our children… or we can endlessly dwell on every negative aspect of life we have ever witnessed.
Hmm. I know which one will make me a happier person. How about you?
Linda Gosselin writes from South Hamilton, Massachusetts.
South Hamilton, MA? Man, that's about as blue as it gets. Good for Linda!
Her article reminds me of the old acorn about the "Washington Post" reporter who witnessed Christ walking on the water. The next day the headline read: "Christ Can't Swim!"
You want to be miserable - be a liberal!
Yeah, liberals are such miserable folks. A cure for cancer surfaces and they'd be whining: "But it still costs money!"
Nail. Head.
Libs are just plain miserable people, every day of their lives, and they just look for someone to blame for their misery and pessimism. A can-do attitude makes this country go.
I would guess it's more that Republicans tend to be more conservative (hard to tell for sure these days...) and that the conservative world-view says that if you don't like your situation, do something positive to change it. Whereas the Dim view is, if you don't like your situation, throw a temper tantrum and demand that someone else do something to change it. Whenever you rely on someone else to make you happy, they are bound to let you down because you have no real idea of what would really make you happy. Think about it: no matter how much was done to satisfy "liberal" causes, it was never enough, and it never will be enough.
"It would be difficult to consider yourself happy if you are convinced that your country consists of imperialist occupiers trying to take over the world."
Its just as difficult for me to be happy since I'm convinced our country consists of big government socialists (of both parties).
I have taught my children that self restraint and not giving in to emotional/hormonal impulses is the secret to what is commonly referred to as 'self esteem'. And happiness is not a constant condition that is okay to support with prescription drugs. And life is hard, and REAL men and women ask for strength; not an easier life. And nothing in life is so dire that it cannot be approached with optimism and even humor on occassion. What I enjoy most about the FR is the humor; if I had to cite the single biggest distinction between liberals and conservatives it's the ability to laugh-even at ourselves.
I think an interesting (but difficult) study would be to look at the differences in suicide rates between conservatives and liberals.
How many famous conservatives have killed themselves? Columnist Linda Bowles did a few years ago. And there was Senator John East from North Carolina, although he was in pretty bad health.
On the liberal side, there's Hunter Thompson, Abby Hoffman, Mitch Snyder, Vince Foster, Washington DC Council Chair John Wilson, and Lewis Puller. In fairness, some of these people were also in bad health.
I could add a ton of entertainers who were probably also liberal, but I would be just guessing as to their political affiliation.
Just from reading news reports, a correlation seems to exist.
Even there, you have it better than a liberal. A conservative does his small best to change government, by talking to people and voting. But he understands his limitations and the limitations of government, so he gets about the business of life, family, and work.
A liberal thinks that government should have all the solutions, so he is perpetually disappointed. Meantime, he doesn't believe in the value of life or family, and he resents having to work because it subjects him to capitalist exploitation. In an ideal world, the government would take care of him, but it just doesn't seem to be able to accomplish its true task of bringing in Utopia.
There are more conservatives up here than the rest of the country thinks, sadly though, not enough to ever swing it into the red.
... or you can marry one.
--------------------------------------------------------V
Yes, I am quite familiar with that part of the world. Keep swinging!
Personal Responsibility = Happiness. It is that simple.
>On the liberal side there's ......., Vince Foster,.....<
Oh yeah! But Vince Foster was beyond your average suicide. He made it look just like murder!
Didn't she write a column once about "Take Your Daughter to Work Day"? I think it talked about her husband taking their daughter to where she used to work and telling her that she believed raising the daughter was so important that she gave it all up. I haven't been able to find it.
I don't remember that one, but I will keep an eye out for it. That sounds exactly like her and her husband :)
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