Socialists are happier.

[Blind groper]

On birds in a cage.
You cannot measure their happiness, but you can measure their stress levels, by doing a blood test for the stress hormone cortisol. Birds in a cage are less stressed than wild birds. It is also interesting that prey animals are less stressed in a low predator environment. In Yellowstone, the deer had cortisol tests before and after the re-introduction of wolves, and their cortisol shot up afterwards. I suspect that low cortisol could be equated to happiness, within limits.

The Cato Institute test for happiness, by the way, did not consist of asking people if they were happy, which makes the NYTimes rant somewhat pointless.

In a non socialist country, the happiest people are the rich, but they are also a tiny minority. In a socialist country, the great majority are happier than in countries where almost all the wealth is held by the rich.

[laklak]

We should provide Soma for The Masses, keep 'em happy.

[JimC]

Obviously different folk have different visions for humankind. My vision is not one in which people are satisfied to be kept ignorant and suppressed.

I don't think that's a charge you can level against modern social democracies with fairly high tax levels, comprehensive social programs and relatively low disparities of wealth. Those conditions can occur along with a fair degree of personal freedom, and a free enterprise based economy. That's not to say that they cannot be problematic if they take the model too far - tax too highly, and provide too much in the way of social benefits and you may reduce the incentive to work, or start up new enterprises. In the end, it's all about finding the balance which suits the people of a given country, with defeat at the ballot box the price paid by parties that get it wrong.

[piscator]

The Cato Institute test for happiness, by the way, did not consist of asking people if they were happy, which makes the NYTimes rant somewhat pointless.

No it doesn't.

[Strontium Dog]

Once again, what business is it of yours how other people feel about their life (in the case of them feeling happy)?

Missing the point I feel. I am against people being compelled to live their life in a defined way. People should be free to find their own path.

[Strontium Dog]

Obviously different folk have different visions for humankind. My vision is not one in which people are satisfied to be kept ignorant and suppressed.

Is that what happiness is?

Maybe it is. Have you noticed how happy stupid people are?

[pErvinalia]

Once again, what business is it of yours how other people feel about their life (in the case of them feeling happy)?

Missing the point I feel. I am against people being compelled to live their life in a defined way. People should be free to find their own path.

The point is that happiness seems the critical thing. If someone is happy, then others need a pretty compelling reason to disrupt their life.

[DaveDodo007]

http://www.nytimes.com/2016/03/17/world ... .html?_r=0

The ten happiest nations in the world are all, to some degree, socialist.

1. Denmark
2. Switzerland
3. Iceland
4. Norway
5. Finland
6. Canada
7. Netherlands
8. New Zealand
9. Australia
10. Sweden

The USA, in spite of being wealthy can only manage 13th place.

The single biggest factor determining happiness by country is the disparity between rich and poor. Socialism reduces that disparity. Obviously, nations that are very poor, or are engaged in civil war, fall to the bottom of the list as unhappy places.

Wealth is important, but so is the distribution of wealth. When a country has lots of money, but it is concentrated in the hands of a few, the overall result is a loss of happiness. Socialism does not interfere with a nation becoming wealthy, but does reduce the disparity across societal classes.

I get given other peoples money so I'm happy, what a surprise.

[Rum]

It is called a social contract. But then for some of us the only contract that means anything is one that exploits people.

[Brian Peacock]

Obviously different folk have different visions for humankind. My vision is not one in which people are satisfied to be kept ignorant and suppressed.

Is that what happiness is?

Maybe it is. Have you noticed how happy stupid people are?

No, have you noticed how miserable clever people are?

[Svartalf]

well, if my intelligence is a function of my unhappiness, I'm brighter than Einstein

[Strontium Dog]

No, have you noticed how miserable clever people are?

Absolutely I have.

I don't know if any studies have been done, but I'd bet money that there is a positive correlation between IQ and suicide rate.

[Brian Peacock]

Intelligence as an expression of mood eh?

[Blind groper]

http://edition.cnn.com/2010/HEALTH/06/0 ... n.suicide/

Does high IQ lead to higher suicide rates?

No!
According to the reference above, the opposite prevails. Low IQ is associated with a four fold increased risk.

[Brian Peacock]

Well that pops that rabbit back in the hat I guess.