Happiness Is ... Being Old, Male and Republican (Fox News)

[underpants]

http://www.foxnews.com/story/0,2933,520536,00.html?test=latestnews

Happiness is a complex thing. Past studies have found that happiness is partly inherited, that Republicans are happier than Democrats and that old men tend to be happier than old women.

And even before the economy got nasty, seniors were found to be generally happier than Baby Boomers. Some of that owes to the American Dream being lived by past generations, while Boomers work two jobs and watch the dream wither.

• Click here to visit FOXNews.com's Natural Science Center. <---- :spray:

If you're thinking that Republicans are happy just because they perhaps make more money, that does not seem to be the case. The study that found Republicans to be happier than Democrats also showed that it held true even after adjusting for income.

Now for the good news: A study in January found that key groups of people in the United States have grown happier over the past few decades, while other have become less so.

The result: Happiness inequality has decreased since the 1970s. Americans are becoming more similar to each other on the happiness scale.

This post would not be complete without a link to "Happiness Machines"
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5PLFMIdMv2c

From the "partly inherited" link (I thought they mentioned "White" in this article but they didn't)
http://www.livescience.com/culture/090126-happiness-gap.html

The U.S. happiness gap between whites and non-whites has narrowed by two-thirds, the new study found. Non-whites report being significantly happier than they were in the early 1970s, while whites are slightly less happy. The happiness gap between men and women closed as well. Women have become less happy, while men are a little more cheerful.

From the "happier than Democrats " link
http://www.livescience.com/strangenews/060315_happiness_pew.html

Overall happiness among U.S. residents has not changed much over the years, according to the latest survey by the Pew Research Center that finds 34 percent of adults are very happy.

Among 3,014 telephone respondents, half reported being pretty happy, and 15 percent said they are not too happy.

The survey, released this week, points out several disparities based on lifestyle, beliefs and political persuasion:

* Republicans are happier than Democrats.
* People who worship frequently are happier than those who don't.
* The rich are happier than the poor.
* Whites and Hispanics are happier than blacks.
* Married people are happier than the unmarried.
* Dog owners and cat owners rate the same.
* Sunbelt residents are happier than everyone else.
About 45 percent of Republicans said they were very happy, compared with 30 percent of Democrats. Republicans have been happier in surveys going back to 1972, the Pew study notes. --there has been a concerted effort (particularly on talk radio)to promote themselves as happyhappyhappy while "liberals" are dour sad shoegazers

[NRaleighLiberal]

1. Republicans make me miserable! also, Ignorance is Bliss - hence happy Repubs!

Not really - I would never let them win that easily!

[theoldman]

2. This proves that ignorance is bliss.

Intelligent people are generally serious. This does not mean they are unhappy. Some of the most ignorant people I have know had a smile on their face all day.

[Kievan Rus]

3. Remember, this IS from Faux News

Lest we forget the conservative movement is nothing more than a lobby group for old straight rich white guys.

[Zing Zing Zingbah]

4. I read about this study on yahoo.

Sounds like crap to me. I'm young (30 is still young, right?), female, and a democrat... so does that mean I should be miserable? Well, I'm actually very happy.

[underpants]

13. I hate to be a "shoot the messenger" person but...

the right has a hierarchy of information that can not be varied from by the lower rungs.

They have tried to convince themselves and others about their happiness and joy with all things while saying that Libs are moral-less sex addicts decrying the "Whatever gets you through the night" mentality AND while they are footstomping mad about everything all the time (mostly geared towards taxes). This is just putting more mass into the cycle.

[Mz Pip]

5. I don't know about that

The Republicans I know or are related to seem to be pretty pissed off must of the time. Especially now. :rofl:

[Arugula Latte]

6. The denial of reality ... no surprise there.

Also, it helps your happiness quotient when you don't have to waste your precious time giving a s@#$ about poor people, "foreign" people, animals or the environment.

[HopeHoops]

7. In other words, "Dumbfucks are happy!"

Now THERE is a shock!

[Mythsaje]

8. Happiness is not giving a shit about other people. n/t

[liberalmuse]

9. Most people would forgo the bliss that comes with ignorance...

for a bit of knowledge. In other words, while one might be happier living in ignorant bliss, most human beings would trade that for more knowledge, even if it means being miserable, hands down. Chew on that one. Voltaire even said as much. There is some kind of joy that cannot be defined knowing you are willing to suffer if it means expanding your horizons and contributing toward making this world a slightly better place. Would any one of you trade being an angst-ridden liberal if it meant you had to become a homophobic, anti-choice Republican?

[theoldman]

10. Most of the ignorant people I know have no desire to become educated.

That is why they are ignorant in the first place. Were you ever more ignorant than the people around you? Probably not, that is why you made your post citing Voltaire. Ignorant people have never heard of Voltaire.

[Laelth]

11. If Democrats are less happy, it is only because they actually pay attention to what's going on. n/t

:dem:

-Laelth

[Johonny]

12. They never hung out with my retire old white friends

They never seem happy about anything. About the only time they seem happy is when their team covers the spread.

[Joe the Liberal]

14. The truth hurts........

as does the cold hard slap in the face of reality, most republicans are very ignorant of most things so this does not surprise me.


* Republicans are happier than Democrats. (in other words, ignorance is bliss)

* People who worship frequently are happier than those who don't. (again ignorance is bliss, religion only offers you the false comfort and security of "everything is going to be ok")

* The rich are happier than the poor. (the rich don't have to deal with as much stress as the poor do)

* Whites and Hispanics are happier than blacks. (probably because they don't have to deal with AS much prejudice s black people do, that would be my guess)

* Married people are happier than the unmarried. (Perhaps because humans are a social species)

* Dog owners and cat owners rate the same. (Having a furry four legged friend around you does lift one's spirits)

* Sunbelt residents are happier than everyone else. (red states = more republicans = more ignorance = more bliss)

[lunatica]

15. Yeah, Those teabaggers look like they couldn't stop having fun

All you have to know is if FOX says it so, then it ain't so.

[muntrv]

16. It's easy to be happy when you don't live in reality.