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I don't know about THAT study, but I can understand how being an older, republican male could be happier. This is why (in my opinion):
-As someone grow's older, they grow more wisdom and typically, they grow the ability to be happy with life without taking everything for granted and without bitching all the time.
-Males are probably, overall, happier than women for the reason that they're usually somewhat more stable, emotionally. They don't typically have their hormones shifting every month to the point of bitchiness, which can destroy female happiness 1 week a month (at least). Amongst the other dozen reason women tend to be more grumpy and unhappy as a sex. Men just worry less, typically and take what they can get and they have a handful of things they do to be happy.
-Being a republican means being content with traditional values and typically not always fighting for something different. If you're not fighting, and if you're content, then you're probably happy. Alas, republicans are usually religious too, and religious people are somehow, truly happier than non-religious people (although it could be act since they just pray all their sadness to God instead of the public).
Again, this was all my opinion. I'm sure there's some flaws in it. Bust them out.
Well I have 2 of the 3 and I rarely go a day without smiling. A lot of my friends say I can't frown after 10am. :D I just love to smile and laugh and I even smiled the earliest out of all of my siblings. So in my specific case, this is true. As a whole, that's tough... You can't really generalize every old, male, republican as happy.
Who the hell cares! What does it matter who is happier? Oh, it looks like Republicans are happier and I'm a Democrat so I think I'm going to switch parties! (that wasn't me saying it personally)
faux takes a survey, and twists the results, questions, and who they ask to fit their pre-determined notions.
you really expect the far right media mouth piece isn't going to say their home team is happier?
1. I live in LV, I promise you that just as many conservatives gamble.
2. there are no statistics for smoking or drinking broken down by party affiliation, but I'll bet that's even too.
how many tofu eating meditating palate doing dems drink and smoke? I'll bet about the same number as the far right church going cons. And the one's in the middle, there's not that much difference between in their day to day lives, so why would these things be different jake? Your assumption is based on a pre-concieved notion that is incorrect.
That said, what makes you think those things in moderation could not lead one to live a long and happy life? Your basis for believing this bogus survey is even false.
my grandparents drank their whole lives, and smoked for most of it as well, lived to their late seventies and eighties, and one is still alive and pushing ninety. They were always happy when I saw them, and 2 of them were cons, and two were dems. (and the one who is still alive is a dem, and has always been the happiest of the four, hm...)
I've said it before, but it bears repeating,
everything that comes out of faux news is twisted and incorrect, and framed in such a way as to villify even the most moderate dem.
it's a farce, and that anyone takes them seriously is really sad.
Well, I don't think the party I am in will define who I become. Who I am defines what party I am in. And that, at least for now, is the republican party.
I like to think of myself as a happy person. Everyone I know would agree.
It's based on Willie Nelson, of course. Or how about Mr. (I never inhaled) Clinton? I mean, how many hippies consider themselves Democrats and how many consider themselves Republicans? ;)
Dude come on. Think about it, who do you think does more of those things? Use common sense. Democrats obviously smoke more and drink more etc. Do you needs stats for that?
Or was that just a convenient way for you to oppose me?
I just feel bad for you that your worldview is so black and white. That you think that "immoral acts" are practiced by only people you disagree with is just sad really.
I don't think that "immoral acts" are practiced only by the people I disagree with. I think that each group has its own set of immoral acts that they wouldn't do and another set that they would do.
For example:
Liberals would probably be more likely to cheat on their wives than cheat on their taxes. Conservatives are probably quite the opposite ;)
"It all makes since, democrats are more for gamboling drinking smoking etc. "
You're masquerading your opinion as fact here. It's unfortunate that you've been taught that people who don't believe in the bible are worse people than you. That's an extremely divisive way of thinking, and only makes you look the worser person for it. Judge not lest thee be judged, perhaps?
Can you provide a single piece of evidence to back that statement up?
"I don't have evidence, but, don't you agree? I still think it makes sense, but that is only my opinion."
Unfortunately, we're all subject to confirmation bias. All of us will look at the world through tinted glasses, where our world view holds true and those who have different views are wrong. We all do it. We obviously hold our own views because we believe those are the right ones. That's simply a natural part of life.
You're what I would class as a conservative (I don't wish to presume that, but it's simply how I would label you if I had to), and I'm most likely what you would class a liberal (which is suprising, seeing as I'm actually a UK conservative). We have opposing views on the world, and as such our views of each other will be skewed around the opposing views of our political alliences. If I were to assert that marijuana use should be legalised, you would most likely attach stygma to that claim. To verify your world view you would probably think of scenarios where people are out of their heads on drugs, driving cars and generally being irresponsible. On the other hand, in my head (and in order to verify my world view to myself) I would probably be imaging people sitting at home, watching some films, having a smoke, and generally not being any kind of problem to society.
The obvious answer here is that both of these scenarios probably do occur, but each of us will automatically lean towards the one that backs up our already existing world view. That's not a problem with either of us; it is simply how the mind works.
In a similar vain, part of your world view includes the fact that those who have opposing views to you on things like gambling, drug use, etc, do so simply because they are wrong. I feel a similiar way. In reality there is probably a very similar amount of liberals and conservatives who do drugs, gamble, smoke, drink alcohol, cheat on their partners, cheat on their taxes, etc. There is also most likely a similar number who are extremely responsible and extremely stupid from both sides.
So, to answer you question with regards to liberals being more inclined to drink, gamble, etc, my answer would be no, I don't agree. The bit that tries to validate my world views will try to argue that it's because liberals are somehow better and more well-rounded individuals. The truth though, is that I answer no simply because everyone, regardless of their political alliences, is at it. Conservatives smoke, gamble, drink, and do all those other things that humans love to do just as much as anyone else.
The morals, ideals, thoughts and self validations of an individual can not be quantified by simply saying that one person is a liberal and the other is a conservative.
"But I'm just saying that more U.S. liberals are likely to do those things."
That's that point. I disagree, and would argue that it's most likely the same.
Both of us are forming our opinions based on our specifically skewed world view though. Until either of us can produce some evidence to back up the claim, it's simply an opinion not based in fact.
Tons of blow? hmm I didn't know that. I'm sure some do.
"You do know that moderate consumption of alcohol is actually a good health move, right?"
Well yea, probably in some way. But I also know that there are endless ways to improve health that do not intoxicate you or have a link to so many deaths.
I was just presenting an argument matched to yours. Hence if you're going do say I'm sure some do than the same applies to your original comment in which you stated that democrats engage in the activities you listed.
Moderate consumption does not lead to intoxication, hence the word moderate.
Joe, Willie Nelson is one of the happiest people on the planet.
Just watch one interview, you wont find a person more in peace, satisfied, and grateful.
And the clap takes 2 pills and about an hour to cure dude, if one gets it from "all the girls he did before," well, that's a price most guys would be willing to pay.
Dick is miserable, he's in a wheelchair, and holding onto a fantasy world where Al Quada was based in Iraq and torture cures all the world's ills. He hates everyone, but especially gays... and he has a gay daughter! He shot his friend in the face with a shotgun. I don't believe a more miserable SOB was ever concieved as that Dick.
Of course he's comes across as being happy. He's on drugs! Let Dick smoke a few joints and you'll see how happy he looks ;)
But even if you were right, Dick is just anecdotal. The study says that statistically the happiest people in the U.S. are old, male and Republican. The study does not say that there isn't one unhappy old, male Republican in the U.S. I mean, are you trying to say that statistically most Democrats are happy because you believe Willie Nelson is happy and most Republicans are unhappy because you believe that Dick, if he's not unhappy, should be? Come on. Even I know you're a better debater than that. I've even up voted you in the past ;)
I think that most conservatives are happy because they love to tweak the liberals and watch them get all animated. Like when Carrie Prejean tweaked Perez Hilton and he became all unglued and called her a "dumb bitch." That was classic ;)
It's not news that Fox has a republican bias. Considering the preposterous allegations, one can conclude that the results were manipulated in order to give the Republican party some favorable light: If the news source flaunts happiness, something that human beings tend to want, and then connects it to the political party it favors, some people will start considering the pro's the party has to offer... maybe even change their political affiliations.
Why appeal to males? We live in a male dominated society. Whether we like it or not, the truth remains that there is no gender equality. Many women would be willing to vote as their husbands do, many women would be willing to vote as their fathers and brothers do. Appealing to men is more effective than appealing to women when it comes to politics, because a male voter can more easily "run the show."
Happiness,. however, comes with a feeling of fulfillment and/or prosperity and, contrary to popular belief, cannot be bought or bargained. The article you posted, considering the source, would not have said that a woman, a child, an immigrant, someone with low income or (much less) a democrat is more likely to be happy.
That an older person is more likely to be happy than an angst ridden teenager, is true. However, sex and political party have nothing to do with it.
Well really all you need to do is look at the source in which it was heard from, FOX
With that said, this has about as much truth as your do rich people have better sex debate. The answer: A) hell no F that bs.
Happiness is being with the person you love, being with the person that can make you walk away from everything you love to do and not miss it. To never be alone again. To never have to worry about the IRS, being in debt, being in a world that could end as humans know it in the blink of an eye. To have no worries.
To have no worries is true happiness.
Being old can be a form of happiness, sure. It can also be a form of living hell. What if your in a hospital bed for the rest of your old, 'happy', republican life? Maybe in pain?
Being young can be a form of happiness, sure. The list can go on and on. Your happy if your happy. Hell some people can be happy with the shittiest environments. The only time most people are truly happy is when their brains haven't fully developed and they are little babies. They do not know it, but that is the happiest time you could ever imagine.
Bah. What nonsense. If perhaps "happiness" was replaced with "contentment," I may buy it. But I don't measure happiness as contentment. I am not happy when I'm content. I need to be stimulated, excited, engaged, and being old and Republican doesn't really seem to suit that very well.