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U.S. hits new low in World Happiness Report

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219 points surprisetalk | 4 comments | 25 Sep 25 20:52 UTC | HN request time: 0.42s | source
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brap ◴[25 Sep 25 22:20 UTC] No.45379950[source]▶
For some grounding, I would like to see how many US citizens migrate to those happy countries vs how many happy citizens migrate to the US.

Actions speak louder.

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BobbyJo ◴[25 Sep 25 22:23 UTC] No.45379993[source]▶
Almost no one from North Korea emigrates to the US. Conclusion: North Koreans are very happy.
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1. brap ◴[25 Sep 25 22:38 UTC] No.45380146[source]▶
No need for the snark, it’s very obviously a flawed heuristic which can obviously be improved with some adjustments. But this isn’t meant to be a research proposal. It was a simple example meant to illustrate a simple point.

Point being, some people like to whine even when they know damn well 99% of the world would happily trade places with them, and for very good reasons.

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2. BobbyJo ◴[25 Sep 25 22:47 UTC] No.45380242[source]▶
Wasn't intending snark. I figured it was a goofy way to point out the flaw in your implicit position that emigration data would be more meaningful than the survey. It still might be, it would just depend a lot more on laws and the marketing of economic opportunities than happiness IMO.

> Point being, some people like to whine even when they know damn well 99% of the world would happily trade places with them, and for very good reasons.

Well yeah, but this is an broad survey, not people whining.

3. nielsbot ◴[25 Sep 25 22:48 UTC] No.45380255[source]▶
> some people like to whine

When I say our for-profit healthcare system is cruel, expensive and ineffective overall, am I whining?

When I say it sucks that we spend $1T on "defense" while raising taxes on working class people, is that whining?

4. nielsbot ◴[25 Sep 25 22:51 UTC] No.45380291[source]▶
> some people like to whine

When I say our for-profit healthcare system is cruel, expensive and ineffective overall, am I whining?

When I say it sucks that we spend $1T on "defense" while raising taxes on working class people, is that whining?

Those things make people less happy.

Is your diagnosis the people are whining and that's why the US isn't at the top of the rankings like Denmark is? Do Danes just whine less?

I want to share one of my favorite quotes which is apt:

“I love America more than any other country in the world and, exactly for this reason, I insist on the right to criticize her perpetually.” -- James Baldwin