Think how many times you've said or heard the phrase, "Happy New Year" in the last few weeks. But, what does it mean? Leave it to Nick Kristof to take on the issue of happiness on an international level.
http://www.nytimes.com/2010/01/07/opinion/07kristof.html
What do you think makes a nation and its people happy? After all, Thomas Jefferson thought it was important enough to put in the Declaration of Independence. "... that they are endowed by their Creator with certain unalienable Rights, that among these are Life, Liberty and the pursuit of Happiness." (We'll have the inalienable v unalienable argument another time.)
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It's a shame that U S citizens are not happier. I don't remember when the statistics were accumulated or if Kristof tells us that. We might blame the lower U S happiness level on the economy--or not. We are spoiled by all that we have, but many have become alienated from other people by the tone of fear-mongerers--so instead of just being on one side or another on an issue, but willing to listen to the other side, we have people afraid of universal health care, afraid of the president, afraid of immigrants, etc. And the fear is expressed in anger about the issues. You can't harbor anger every day and feel happy at the same time.
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