Ralph would approve
There's something really strange about this year's Gallup poll of happy and unhappy countries. The questions are excellent; no possible argument there. Goes beyond superficial words to probe activities that generate contentment in the broadest sense.

I think Emerson would approve of the procedure. He would certainly understand the result. Happy countries include a complete cross-section of governmental systems, unhappy countries include a complete cross-section of governmental systems.

Partisans and ideologues want to convince us that elections and systems matter. Nope. Dead wrong. Revolutionaries are evener deader wronger, because the result of every revolution is years of chaos followed by return of harsher tyranny.

The true life and satisfactions of man seem to elude the utmost rigors or felicities of condition, and to establish themselves with great indifferency under all varieties of circumstances. Under all governments the influence of character remains the same; in Turkey and in New England about alike.

But this year's results have some seriously misplaced happies. All of the top ten this year are Spanish-speaking countries in Latin America, and Brazil is WAY down the list. This simply doesn't make sense.

I dare you to find a picture or video from Brazil that DOESN'T show people enjoying life to the max. Nobody on earth spends so much time dancing and celebrating life. Even Google Streetview shows it. Almost every randomly selected block includes people strolling around and smiling.

Same goes for Korea. No matter what Koreans are doing, they're enjoying it. Even when they're protesting and fighting police, both sides are enjoying the fight. But Korea is way down the list.

The bottom end makes more sense. Countries where NudelmanPyatt War Partners LLC has fulfilled a highly profitable bloody chaos contract are extremely unhappy or dead. And Slavic countries are unhappy regardless of conditions. Tragedy is a vitamin for Slavs. They eat and breathe dark heavy gloom, which is why they endure.

Labels: Grand Blueprint

  ¶ 4:26 PM