Happiness Is... Being Old, Male and Republican

[TheCount]

Americans grow happier as they age, surveys find. And a new Pew Research Center survey shows the tendency is holding up as the economy tanks.

Happiness is a complex thing. Past studies have found that happiness is partly inherited, that Republicans are happier than Democrats, and that old men tend to be happier than old women.

And even before the economy got nasty, seniors were found to be generally happier than Baby Boomers. Some of that owes to the American Dream being lived by past generations, while Boomers work two jobs and watch the dream wither.

In times like this, it's clear how age can have its advantages. While not all seniors are weathering the recession well, for many the impact is much less severe than it is for younger people.

Why? Many people 65 and older retired and downsized their lifestyles before the economy imploded, according to Pew analysts. Most aren't raising kids and many are not so worried about being laid off. Loss of income can be, of course, a source of stress and displeasure. (While money doesn't buy happiness, a study in February showed cash can help, especially when people use it to do stuff instead of buy things.)

If you're thinking that Republicans are happy just because they perhaps make more money, that does not seem to be the case. The study that found Republicans to be happier than Democrats also showed that it held true even after adjusting for income.

It's those age 50-64 who've "seen their nest eggs shrink the most and their anxieties about retirement swell the most," the Pew survey found. It also finds that younger adults (ages 18-49) "have taken the worst lumps in the job market but remain relatively upbeat about their financial future."

Not everyone in any category is blissful, of course. Other research has shown that happiness in old age depends largely on attitude factors such as optimism and coping strategies. Add financial planning to the list.

In the new Pew telephone survey, taken in March and April of 2,969 adults, here's how many respondents in each age group said they had cut back on spending in the past year:

* 18-49: 68 percent
* 50-64: 59 percent
* 65+: 36 percent.

And is the recession causing stress in your family?

* 18-49: 52 percent
* 50-64: 58 percent
* 65+: 38 percent.

Now for the good news: A study in January found that key groups of people in the United States have grown happier over the past few decades, while other have become less so. The result: Happiness inequality has decreased since the 1970s. Americans are becoming more similar to each other on the happiness scale.

-------------

Score one for the Republicans.

That should be part of the next campaign:
"The Republican Party: We're Happier Than You Think".

I dig it!

Happy Monday, gang.

[ShiningStar]

Originally Posted by TheCount

Americans grow happier as they age, surveys find. And a new Pew Research Center survey shows the tendency is holding up as the economy tanks.

Happiness is a complex thing. Past studies have found that happiness is partly inherited, that Republicans are happier than Democrats, and that old men tend to be happier than old women.

And even before the economy got nasty, seniors were found to be generally happier than Baby Boomers. Some of that owes to the American Dream being lived by past generations, while Boomers work two jobs and watch the dream wither.

In times like this, it's clear how age can have its advantages. While not all seniors are weathering the recession well, for many the impact is much less severe than it is for younger people.

[View Full Quote]Why? Many people 65 and older retired and downsized their lifestyles before the economy imploded, according to Pew analysts. Most aren't raising kids and many are not so worried about being laid off. Loss of income can be, of course, a source of stress and displeasure. (While money doesn't buy happiness, a study in February showed cash can help, especially when people use it to do stuff instead of buy things.)

If you're thinking that Republicans are happy just because they perhaps make more money, that does not seem to be the case. The study that found Republicans to be happier than Democrats also showed that it held true even after adjusting for income.

It's those age 50-64 who've "seen their nest eggs shrink the most and their anxieties about retirement swell the most," the Pew survey found. It also finds that younger adults (ages 18-49) "have taken the worst lumps in the job market but remain relatively upbeat about their financial future."

Not everyone in any category is blissful, of course. Other research has shown that happiness in old age depends largely on attitude factors such as optimism and coping strategies. Add financial planning to the list.

In the new Pew telephone survey, taken in March and April of 2,969 adults, here's how many respondents in each age group said they had cut back on spending in the past year:

* 18-49: 68 percent
* 50-64: 59 percent
* 65+: 36 percent.

And is the recession causing stress in your family?

* 18-49: 52 percent
* 50-64: 58 percent
* 65+: 38 percent.

Now for the good news: A study in January found that key groups of people in the United States have grown happier over the past few decades, while other have become less so. The result: Happiness inequality has decreased since the 1970s. Americans are becoming more similar to each other on the happiness scale.

-------------

Score one for the Republicans.

That should be part of the next campaign:
"The Republican Party: We're Happier Than You Think".

I dig it!

Happy Monday, gang.

Its like a jack in the box but instead of a cute clown popping out I get a fist in the face. I knew it when i clicked on the post and yet i still did it.

[bbgun]

"You're only happy because you're OBLIVIOUS to all the suffering around you!"

Just anticipating the likely response.

[VietCowboy]

http://pewresearch.org/pubs/1005/republicans-happier

Well, Republicans are different from Democrats. How so? Let us count the ways.
They have more money.2
They have more friends.3
They are more religious.4
They are healthier.5
They are more likely to be married.6
They like their communities better.7
They like their jobs more.8
They are more satisfied with their family life.9
They like the weather better.10
They have fewer financial worries.11
They're more likely to see themselves doing better in life than their parents did.12
They're more likely to feel that individuals - rather than outside forces - control their own success or failure.13
They have more of what they most value in life. (No, it's not money).14

[Danny White]

It's hard NOT to be happy when your whole life revolves around polo matches, insider trading, and lighting cigars with hundred dollar bills!

[JBond]

Of course we are happier. We have not spent our lives aborting our children and begging for others to pay our way. We earned our happiness with a life time of good decision making. Of course the members of the party that are in favor of chopping up unborn babies and and that are told continually by their leaders it's not their fault they suck at life are going to be less happy. DUH!

[masomenos]

Really, it makes sense just based on what the conservative and liberal ideologies stand for.

Conservatives are trying to preserve culture, traditions, beliefs, etc. The word conservative comes from conserve which comes from the Latin word meaning "to keep or preserve".

Liberals are trying to change culture into something better. The term "liberal" comes from the Latin word for "noble and generous". Liberals take the position that the world, as it is, is not already "noble and generous".

If you already have the things in life that you think are good, as conservatives do, then of course you'll be happier than a group, like liberals, who feel things need to get better.

[JBond]

Originally Posted by masomenos85

Really, it makes sense just based on what the conservative and liberal ideologies stand for.

Conservatives are trying to preserve culture, traditions, beliefs, etc. The word conservative comes from conserve which comes from the Latin word meaning "to keep or preserve".

Liberals are trying to change culture into something better. The term "liberal" comes from the Latin word for "noble and generous". Liberals take the position that the world, as it is, is not already "noble and generous".

If you already have the things in life that you think are good, as conservatives do, then of course you'll be happier than a group, like liberals, who feel things need to get better.

I guess it's a question if you earned those things, or if you whine and cry until a politician takes the money from the successful\happy people to finance the things you feel entitled to have without doing to do the work required to afford them. One side believes in America and capitalism the other demonizes it and relishes in socialism.

[iceberg]

Originally Posted by masomenos85

Really, it makes sense just based on what the conservative and liberal ideologies stand for.

Conservatives are trying to preserve culture, traditions, beliefs, etc. The word conservative comes from conserve which comes from the Latin word meaning "to keep or preserve".

Liberals are trying to change culture into something better. The term "liberal" comes from the Latin word for "noble and generous". Liberals take the position that the world, as it is, is not already "noble and generous".

If you already have the things in life that you think are good, as conservatives do, then of course you'll be happier than a group, like liberals, who feel things need to get better.

well needless to say - i disagree.

conservative, to me as one, means i don't run out and scream things like GLOBAL WARMING IS KILLING US ALL!!!!

that's the liberal job.

so the whole keep/preserve vs. make the world a better place is kinda crap to me.

liberal means you'd "liberally" spread your beliefs and not give a damn someone else doesn't want to hear it. to "assume" you're right and they're wrong is part of the huge issue of divide on BOTH sides.

both sides want things to be better - to say otherwise is a crock. conservatives by and large want to pay their own way and provide for themselves.

liberals want to give the good life away w/o worry about who's paying for it. usually the conservatives or "middle ground".

normally i can find something to agree with in your posts - this one is just a tad unnerving. as a conservative i feel things need to get better.

i just feel the "common man" needs to get off their arse and do it for themselves.

[JBond]

Originally Posted by iceberg

normally i can find something to agree with in your posts - this one is just a tad unnerving. as a conservative i feel things need to get better.

i just feel the "common man" needs to get off their arse and do it for themselves.

Change! Hope!

How about a little hard work instead. America was sold a bill of goods using slogans that could mean absolutely anything. As a hard working adult that has been in the real world for a while now, "better" is going to mean one thing to me but something different to some goofball alcoholic on his 9th job in 4 years because he can't show up for his shifts. Ditto for the folks that fail out of college because of their own lack of personal responsibility. I knew plenty of kids that would rather party than study and many of them are paying the price.

The decisions we make should have consequences.

[masomenos]

Originally Posted by iceberg

well needless to say - i disagree.

conservative, to me as one, means i don't run out and scream things like GLOBAL WARMING IS KILLING US ALL!!!!

that's the liberal job.

so the whole keep/preserve vs. make the world a better place is kinda crap to me.

liberal means you'd "liberally" spread your beliefs and not give a damn someone else doesn't want to hear it. to "assume" you're right and they're wrong is part of the huge issue of divide on BOTH sides.

both sides want things to be better - to say otherwise is a crock. conservatives by and large want to pay their own way and provide for themselves.

liberals want to give the good life away w/o worry about who's paying for it. usually the conservatives or "middle ground".

[View Full Quote]normally i can find something to agree with in your posts - this one is just a tad unnerving. as a conservative i feel things need to get better.

i just feel the "common man" needs to get off their arse and do it for themselves.

Let me see if I can rephrase that then, I didn't mean for it to sound like the conservative stance was bad.

Now, this is strictly speaking from a cultural perspective...

Conservatives already feel that their culture is "noble and generous" and I think that you can make a lot of arguments for that. Are the community and missions work that churches do "noble and generous"? Absolutely, there's no question about it. That's what conservatives are trying to preserve, not just churches and religion but other institutions and traditions that they feel already meet the "noble and generous" requirement. Does that mean that they think everything is perfect and that nothing needs to change? No, certainly not. Conservatives just see the foundations of society (at least in their circles) as being strong, beneficial and worth keeping around and as a possible vehicle for positive change.

Conservatives believe that by promoting their beliefs, they can make the world a better place, just like liberals do. I wasn't trying to say that only liberals want a better world, but I see how it came across like that.

Does that make more sense?

[Danny White]

Originally Posted by masomenos85

Let me see if I can rephrase that then, I didn't mean for it to sound like the conservative stance was bad.

Now, this is strictly speaking from a cultural perspective...

Conservatives already feel that their culture is "noble and generous" and I think that you can make a lot of arguments for that. Are the community and missions work that churches do "noble and generous"? Absolutely, there's no question about it. That's what conservatives are trying to preserve, not just churches and religion but other institutions and traditions that they feel already meet the "noble and generous" requirement. Does that mean that they think everything is perfect and that nothing needs to change? No, certainly not. Conservatives just see the foundations of society (at least in their circles) as being strong, beneficial and worth keeping around and as a possible vehicle for positive change.

[View Full Quote]Conservatives believe that by promoting their beliefs, they can make the world a better place, just like liberals do. I wasn't trying to say that only liberals want a better world, but I see how it came across like that.

Does that make more sense?

I thought it made sense the first time.

Conservative suggests happiness with the status quo...

Liberal (or "progressive") suggests unhappiness with the status quo...


Of course it's a lot more complicated/nuanced than that. But in a nutshell it makes perfect sense.

[masomenos]

Originally Posted by Danny White

I thought it made sense the first time.

Conservative suggests happiness with the status quo...

Liberal (or "progressive") suggests unhappiness with the status quo...


Of course it's a lot more complicated/nuanced than that. But in a nutshell it makes perfect sense.

Whew, I was afraid that what I said came across as offensive. Of course, you're right, the issue is a lot more complicated than a few sentences in a post can explain.

Now get back to your polo match!

[Doomsday101]

According to the election old, white, male and republican make you a minority.

[Bob Sacamano]

cbz must be the happiest man on Earth