Where Is The Happiest Place On Earth?

Happiness is that quirky, elusive emotion that the Declaration of Independence maintains we have every right to pursue. And we do pursue it: we are suckers for an endless stream of self-help books that promise a carefree existence for a mere $24.95; and television hucksters of every kind claim they have the key to Nirvana. So the happiness business, at least, is one big smiley face.

As for the rest of us, the main scientific survey of international happiness carried out by Leicester University in England ranks the U.S. a distant 23rd, well behind Canada and Costa Rica. But you'll be pleased to know we beat Iraq and Pakistan.

From CBSNews.com

Comments

[brooklyncitizen]

09:51 PM on 02/24/2008

I don't know the glum thesis is appropriate for the Danes.

When I visited scandinavia this by far was my favorite of the four countries. the swedes were perfect: rich and physically beautiful. the finns were kind of gloom and doom but the danes were humble and relaxed and warm in their own way...Iloved it so much I studied danish for a bit and considered living there...sigh...

[Wanjiru]

11:54 AM on 02/22/2008

...and to think that all these years I have been thinking that Disney World was the happiest place on earth!...

...ugh...


.

[eastcoastprogressive]

11:10 AM on 02/22/2008

Individualism is overrated, the US is a lonely place for this ideology. Community is needed for happiness, a healthy society is the secret to maintaining a high standard of living and personal happiness. Also a healthy view of sexuality is needed for true happiness, Europe has many valuable lessons for American's shallow gnostic views of sex which cause many social problems for United States citizens.

[amanda85]

07:42 PM on 02/21/2008

Sorry about the double post, huffpo is sucking more than usual today. A suggestion to the tech stuff: how about a little more work and a little less attacking people with different ideas under dozens of different aliases?

[amanda85]

07:40 PM on 02/21/2008

"It is human nature to think that you live in the best country"

No, it's not. It's actually a typical idea planted in all citizens of fascist (i.e. corporatist) countries since birth. Americans don't realize how much they have in common with Nazi Germany... You just see how you guys react every time a foreigner dares to make an observation on your country. I've been told by many huffpo commenters (both conservative and wanna-be liberals, very few true Liberals here...) that, as a foreigner, I shouldn't even post here, even though the 800-lb gorilla is right in my backyard and our two countries are so intertwined (by geography, trade, politics and even culture, down to the same language...) that it's pretty natural to worry about what's going on with your crazy neighbour who might bomb you just because you said something he doesn't like...
National pride (i.e. patriotism) is a fascistic concept, the idea that somehow you're "better" than the rest of humanity on this planet, just because you were born in a certain country. Really not different at all from any other "birth privilege", like being born rich and looking down on everyone not as fortunate. Which, by the way, is something a lot of Americans do on a daily basis, and that's because the system encourages it. Once again, another idea planted by a fascist regime preoccupied only with the profits of the oligarchic corporations in power (peer envy makes a lot of sales...)
I suggest to all Americans who want to really know the rest of the world to travel with an open mind, not to find a "confirmation" that your country is the "best" (whatever it means...), but to understand that not everybody thinks his/her own nation is the "best" and that doesn't necessarily mean that place sucks when compared to the mighty US... Actually it could mean that people over there are happier than you.

Ask 10 Americans which country is the "best" in the world and probably 8-9 will answer "USA-USA-USA."
Ask 10 Canadians/Europeans/Asutralians etc. which country is the "best" in the world and 8-9 will tell you there is no such a thing as a "best" country.

"Foreigners suck" type of retort in 5...4...3...2...1...

[amanda85]

07:40 PM on 02/21/2008

"It is human nature to think that you live in the best country"

No, it's not. It's actually a typical idea planted in all citizens of fascist (i.e. corporatist) countries since birth. Americans don't realize how much they have in common with Nazi Germany... You just see how you guys react every time a foreigner dares to make an observation on your country. I've been told by many huffpo commenters (both conservative and wanna-be liberals, very few true Liberals here...) that, as a foreigner, I shouldn't even post here, even though the 800-lb gorilla is right in my backyard and our two countries are so intertwined (by geography, trade, politics and even culture, down to the same language...) that it's pretty natural to worry about what's going on with your crazy neighbour who might bomb you just because you said something he doesn't like...
National pride (i.e. patriotism) is a fascistic concept, the idea that somehow you're "better" than the rest of humanity on this planet, just because you were born in a certain country. Really not different at all from any other "birth privilege", like being born rich and looking down on everyone not as fortunate. Which, by the way, is something a lot of Americans do on a daily basis, and that's because the system encourages it. Once again, another idea planted by a fascist regime preoccupied only with the profits of the oligarchic corporations in power (peer envy makes a lot of sales...)
I suggest to all Americans who want to really know the rest of the world to travel with an open mind, not to find a "confirmation" that your country is the "best" (whatever it means...), but to understand that not everybody thinks his/her own nation is the "best" and that doesn't necessarily mean that place sucks when compared to the mighty US... Actually it could mean that people over there are happier than you.

Ask 10 Americans which country is the "best" in the world and probably 8-9 will answer "USA-USA-USA."
Ask 10 Canadians/Europeans/Asutralians etc. which country is the "best" in the world and 8-9 will tell you there is no such a thing as a "best" country.

"Foreigners suck" type of retort in 5...4...3...2...1...

[DuffyShort]

01:37 PM on 02/19/2008

It is human nature to think that you live in the best country and are the most satisfied in the World. Just as the European nations and capitals were at the zenith of progressiveness and technology in 1900, the US is at that point right now. We will loose that title soon to maybe China, India, Austrailia, Brazil or maybe Europe again. Our aging infrastruture and falling stature in world opinion are only two of many reasons for eventual decline.