US doesn't make cut for happiest nations list

[kpete]

US doesn't make cut for happiest nations list
Feel good about yourself and your life? There's a chance you might be Danish

................

The happiest people in the developed world get loads of social services without having to work too hard. Having abundant natural resources, a thriving services sector and a fairly homogeneous population helps as well. The OECD study no doubt would have had different results had it included politically unstable countries in the Middle East or large emerging economies where political unrest threatens to bubble over such as China.

.................

The happiest countries seem to be places where there is a good balance of work and leisure time. Not all nations can afford to keep unemployment low through government subsidies. Not all countries can afford to provide universal medical coverage. Not all countries can afford to educate almost all of their children, which in turn supports extremely high literacy rates and builds a population of skilled workers.

(the list and more)
http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/43287918/ns/business-world_business/

[notesdev]

1. Happy? In America?

Who? I see miserable faces everywhere. I suspect a good proportion of those are upside-down on a mortgage and/or out of a job.

[ileus]

2. I'm on year #41 of feeling good about myself and life.

[wtmusic]

3. Did they poll the top 2%?

I'd bet they're exceedingly happy.

[Fresh_Start]

4. Actually I doubt they are happy

if they were happy, they would be so demanding and "me,me,me".
I think a happy person enjoys other people being happy around them.

[tblue]

5. I bet we rank high on the 'angriest' list.

I just read somewhere we are one of the 'most teligious' too.

[Pharaoh]

6. I beg to differ

Not all nations can afford to keep unemployment low through government subsidies. Not all countries can afford to provide universal medical coverage. Not all countries can afford to educate almost all of their children, which in turn supports extremely high literacy rates and builds a population of skilled workers


If we tax the rich and corporations and end war we can leave in a comparably utopian society..........