The happiest countries in the world list

[Guest American Woman]

They hate us for our happiness.

Evidently.

[waldo]

It doesn't matter what some people say the "happiest countries" are; it only matter how happy you are.

clearly, it doesn't matter...

Oh no! Tell me it's not true. Not a UN report!

That puts a whole different light on it. I know I personally want to live up to the *U.N.'s* idea of what makes a person happy

particularly when you rail against the UN over a report you... apparently... have some degree of difficulty with! Obviously, Red isn't your colour, hey?

[dre]

I'm not arguing about anything. I'm saying how happy I am. I said how great both of our nations are. It's Canadianss who are telling me that Americans are not as happy. But thanks for singling me out - yet again. It's oh-so-telling - and it gives me a good laugh.

Heres what you said about the report...

Oh no! Tell me it's not true. Not a UN report! That puts a whole different light on it. I know I personally want to live up to the *U.N.'s* idea of what makes a person happy.

This little tirade is strange given that the report (which is what this topic is about) ranks the US very high...

[capricorn]

I checked to see if there were previous World Happiness Reports. This is the first such report and it was produced for this week's UN conference on happiness.

Should happiness figure in a nation's bottom line? And should the concept of Gross National Product be replaced by Gross National Happiness?

Bhutan's Prime Minister Jigmi Y. Thinley told a high-level U.N. meeting Monday that it not only should but that it must if mankind is to avoid its current unsustainable and self-destructive course.

Bhutan, the tiny Himalayan nation which tops Asia in the United Nations' First World Happiness Report, convened the meeting seeking to develop a new economic model based on principles of happiness and well being.

"The GDP-lead development model that compels boundless growth on a planet with limited resources no longer makes economic sense. It is the cause of our irresponsible, immoral and self-destructive actions," Thinley said. "The purpose of development must be to create enabling conditions through public policy for the pursuit of the ultimate goal of happiness by all citizens."

The conference titled "Happiness and Well-being: Defining a New Economic Paradigm," brought together hundreds of representatives of government — including Costa Rican President Laura Chincilla — academics and other civic leaders to discuss the issue. All endorsed the importance of happiness, though not necessarily Bhutan's proposed index.

Jeffery Sachs, a prominent development economist at Columbia University in New York who edited the World Happiness Report along with John Helliwell and Richard Layard, said that happiness could be achieved independent of economic well-being as measured by GNP. The report was released to coincide with the conference.

http://news.yahoo.com/un-discusses-creation-gross-national-happiness-003615190.html

To which I say:

[waldo]

This little tirade is strange given that the report (which is what this topic is about) ranks the US very high...

and that about sums up the oft repeated pattern seen over and over again by both of these foreign interlopers... apparently, they take great exception and view it as a personal affront if they're not "No. 1" in everything/anything. USA, USA, USA! (Of course, it's soooo easy to push their buttons and realize this exact response)

[Guest American Woman]

Heres what you said about the report...

This little tirade is strange given that the report (which is what this topic is about) ranks the US very high...

Are you really that ignorant? Really?? The "little tirade" you refer to is sarcasm - in light of the comments about how Americans aren't as happy. Did I say anything negative about Canada? No, I did not. Quite the opposite, in fact; as I've responded to negative posts about the U.S But do single me out, do criticize me. As I said, it's oh-so-telling. And so very amusing.

[Shady]

nope, sorry - I'm not telling myself anything... I'm simply reading and quoting from the U.N. report.

Right. The U.N. The institution that champions Syria and Iran as its chair on its human rights committee.

[Shady]

Are you really that ignorant? Really?? The "little tirade" you refer to is sarcasm - in light of the comments about how Americans aren't as happy. Did I say anything negative about Canada? No, I did not. Quite the opposite, in fact; as I've responded to negative posts about the U.S But do single me out, do criticize me. As I said, it's oh-so-telling. And so very amusing.

On behalf of all Canaidans, I'd like to apologize for the rabid anti-American zealots on this forum. Their knee-jerk anti-Americanism knows no bounds. Unfortunately, like similar racists and bigots, they were raised that way.

[jbg]

Where are such paradises as North Korea, Cuba, Pakistan and Afghanistan on that list?

[dre]

On behalf of all Canaidans, I'd like to apologize for the rabid anti-American zealots on this forum. Their knee-jerk anti-Americanism knows no bounds. Unfortunately, like similar racists and bigots, they were raised that way.

Um she was talking to me sport... Im not "anti-American" at all.

[dre]

Are you really that ignorant? Really?? The "little tirade" you refer to is sarcasm - in light of the comments about how Americans aren't as happy. Did I say anything negative about Canada? No, I did not. Quite the opposite, in fact; as I've responded to negative posts about the U.S But do single me out, do criticize me. As I said, it's oh-so-telling. And so very amusing.

[bush_cheney2004]

Um she was talking to me sport... Im not "anti-American" at all.

Not true...you insist that America is bankrupt because of Nixon shock.

[dre]

Not true...you insist that America is bankrupt because of Nixon shock.

Thats not anti-american at all... Its a completely uncontraversial description of what happened, and youll see it on every list of national bankruptcies you can find.

But then... you guys see anti-americanism pretty much everywhere because youre obsessed with it. In this case so obsessed you went on the defense when there wasnt even at attack.

Its in the heart of every child and on the face of every smiling baby

[Shady]

Um she was talking to me sport... Im not "anti-American" at all.

I know she was talking to you. But I wanted to apologize on behalf of all Canadians, for you, and all the other anti-American bigots of the forum.

[dre]

I know she was talking to you. But I wanted to apologize on behalf of all Canadians, for you, and all the other anti-American bigots of the forum.

Except Im not one of those... Thats a complete invention on your part.

Edited April 3, 2012 by dre

[bush_cheney2004]

Thats not anti-american at all... Its a completely uncontraversial description of what happened, and youll see it on every list of national bankruptcies you can find.

No I won't....but you sure do. You are obsessed with it. What America giveth, America can taketh away.

[stopstaaron]

I know she was talking to you. But I wanted to apologize on behalf of all Canadians, for you, and all the other anti-American bigots of the forum.

The word bigot is overused and has no meaning u know that

[jbg]

Um she was talking to me sport... Im not "anti-American" at all.

Of course you aren't. Certainly not the part north and east of the U.S.-Canadian border (east being AK, YU, BC border).

[dre]

No I won't....but you sure do. You are obsessed with it. What America giveth, America can taketh away.

Obsessed with it? Youre the one that brought this up the last ten times its been mentioned.

[stopstaaron]

They are just angry cause at 11th place they cant chant USA USA USA

[bleeding heart]

I know she was talking to you. But I wanted to apologize on behalf of all Canadians, for you, and all the other anti-American bigots of the forum.

And now's the part where, given your native sense of fair play and sober rationality, you will provide indisputable evidence of Dre's "anti-American bigotry."

It's obvious to you, so you should be able to find plenty of it. We'll settle for...let's say five examples. Three at least must be utterly unambiguous.

Now that I think of it, you are one of the chief complainers about the United States on this forum...but you're only obssessively hateful towards the liberal half.

Edited April 3, 2012 by bleeding heart

[Shady]

The word bigot is overused and has no meaning u know that

That's why I used it. Because its people like this particular poster and their ilk that like to throw that around.

[Guest Manny]

Most of the countries at the top of the list are strong social democracies which have a balanced blend of socialism and capitalism. They're not necessarily the wealthiest in the world in GDP or whatever, but they have a good work/life balance.

That makes sense

[Bonam]

It doesn't matter what some people say the "happiest countries" are; it only matter how happy you are.

Agreed. I'd even go so far as to say that unless you live in an absolute hellhole where you are likely to die from starvation, preventable disease, dirty water, government oppression, or marauding warlords with their armies, your happiness has very little to do with the country you live in.

Happiness depends to a far greater extent on your relationships with the people around you: your family members, your spouse/significant other, your friends and coworkers.

And the reality is no matter how much everything is made "equal" in any given country, no welfare state will ever be able to guarantee you good parents, an awesome wife/husband, great friends, good relationships with your grown up children, and a wise and benevolent boss at work.

[Topaz]

I want to see the same poll when the this budget takes affect. No country will over a million people out of work can be happy socially and Canada is on a down turn thanks to the Tories. There`s more 500,000 on EI and probably over over a million on welfare, so how happy can a country be?