This country ranks No. 1 for life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness (its not America)

[Remodeling Maidiac]

So what airline is Matthew using to leave the country he hates?

 

[Cellblock2429]

This country ranks No. 1 for life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness (its not America)
This country ranks No. 1 for ‘life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness’ (it’s not America)

Norway ranked the No. 1 place for happiness and personal freedom, according to an analysis of three separate studies on life expectancy by the World Bank, on civil liberties from Freedom House, a New York-based nonprofit that conducts research on advocacy and democracy, on happiness from the Sustainable Development Solutions Network (SDSN), a group linked to the United Nations, and on rule of law from the World Justice Project, a Washington, D.C.-based nonprofit.

...

The U.S. has seen its happiness slide happiness over the last decade. In 2007, it ranked No. 3 among the Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development countries. Last year, it was 19th, down from 13th the year before. “The predominant political discourse in the United States is aimed at raising economic growth, with the goal of restoring the American Dream and the happiness that is supposed to accompany it. But the data show conclusively that this is the wrong approach,” the report concluded.

For those interviewed in the report, perception is reality. At least, as far as their happiness is concerned and, experts say, the divisive political climate likely hasn’t helped. “The United States can and should raise happiness by addressing America’s multi-faceted social crisis — rising inequality, corruption, isolation, and distrust — rather than focusing exclusively or even mainly on economic growth, especially since the concrete proposals along these lines would exacerbate rather than ameliorate the deepening social crisis,” the report said.

...

The U.S showed less social support, less sense of personal freedom, lower donations, and more perceived corruption of government and business, it said. “America’s crisis is, in short, a social crisis, not an economic crisis… Almost all of the policy discourse in Washington, D.C. centers on naïve attempts to raise the economic growth rate, as if a higher growth rate would somehow heal the deepening divisions and angst in American society. This kind of growth-only agenda is doubly wrong-headed.”

Social democracies lead the world!!! High political freedom, strong safetynet, educated population and high GDP per capita!

WTF does America have??? Low political freedom, weak safetynet that a certain party wants to do away with all together and to hell with the suffering poor, one of the lowest in education but the religious like it that way and a dropping GDP per capita.

America is becoming a second world country.

/----/ You should receive an award for living in our American hell hole. I know your family and neighbors all wish you'd move to Norway and would gladly chip in for your one way ticket but you make the selfless sacrifice to stay here. WOWZA what a guy.

 

[Dragonlady]

What else does most western europe countries have over America
1. Low prison population. In America we have the biggest on earth as everything is illegal!
2. Getting sick can fucking destroy your life here in America...That doesn't happen in western europe.

Oh'yesss, loserterianism is so fucking free and wonderful. About as free as living in somalia and wondering if you're going to get blown away in the middle of the night.

Here's a hint.
Immigrants are 22 percent of federal prison population

And half of those prisoners are illegal immigrants. But here’s the thing. Most prisoners are in state prisons and local jails and in total, immigrants make up only 4% of the total number of people who are incarcerated. Given that immigrants make up 13% of the US population, immigrants commit disproportionally FEWER crimes than natural born citizens.

There were approximately 2,217,000 prisoners in the US. Federal prisons held 215,000 of those prisoners or less than 10% of that total. The rest were in state and local prisons.

Incarceration in the United States - Wikipedia

I love it when racist, xenophobic posts blow up in your faces.

 

[Toddsterpatriot]

This country ranks No. 1 for life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness (its not America)

94% Norwegian (white)......huge oil exporter.

Do you want us to be more like Norway?

 

[Lastamender]

What else does most western europe countries have over America
1. Low prison population. In America we have the biggest on earth as everything is illegal!
2. Getting sick can fucking destroy your life here in America...That doesn't happen in western europe.

Oh'yesss, loserterianism is so fucking free and wonderful. About as free as living in somalia and wondering if you're going to get blown away in the middle of the night.

Here's a hint.
Immigrants are 22 percent of federal prison population

And half of those prisoners are illegal immigrants. But here’s the thing. Most prisoners are in state prisons and local jails and in total, immigrants make up only 4% of the total number of people who are incarcerated. Given that immigrants make up 13% of the US population, immigrants commit disproportionally FEWER crimes than natural born citizen.

There were approximately 2,217,000 prisoners in the US. Federal prisons held 215,000 of those prisoners or less than 10% of that total. The rest were in state and local prisons.

Incarceration in the United States - Wikipedia

Another wonderful reason to give our country away so Democrats can get elected and finish the job.

 

[bripat9643]

This country ranks No. 1 for life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness (its not America)
This country ranks No. 1 for ‘life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness’ (it’s not America)

Norway ranked the No. 1 place for happiness and personal freedom, according to an analysis of three separate studies on life expectancy by the World Bank, on civil liberties from Freedom House, a New York-based nonprofit that conducts research on advocacy and democracy, on happiness from the Sustainable Development Solutions Network (SDSN), a group linked to the United Nations, and on rule of law from the World Justice Project, a Washington, D.C.-based nonprofit.

...

The U.S. has seen its happiness slide happiness over the last decade. In 2007, it ranked No. 3 among the Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development countries. Last year, it was 19th, down from 13th the year before. “The predominant political discourse in the United States is aimed at raising economic growth, with the goal of restoring the American Dream and the happiness that is supposed to accompany it. But the data show conclusively that this is the wrong approach,” the report concluded.

For those interviewed in the report, perception is reality. At least, as far as their happiness is concerned and, experts say, the divisive political climate likely hasn’t helped. “The United States can and should raise happiness by addressing America’s multi-faceted social crisis — rising inequality, corruption, isolation, and distrust — rather than focusing exclusively or even mainly on economic growth, especially since the concrete proposals along these lines would exacerbate rather than ameliorate the deepening social crisis,” the report said.

...

The U.S showed less social support, less sense of personal freedom, lower donations, and more perceived corruption of government and business, it said. “America’s crisis is, in short, a social crisis, not an economic crisis… Almost all of the policy discourse in Washington, D.C. centers on naïve attempts to raise the economic growth rate, as if a higher growth rate would somehow heal the deepening divisions and angst in American society. This kind of growth-only agenda is doubly wrong-headed.”

Social democracies lead the world!!! High political freedom, strong safetynet, educated population and high GDP per capita!

WTF does America have??? Low political freedom, weak safetynet that a certain party wants to do away with all together and to hell with the suffering poor, one of the lowest in education but the religious like it that way and a dropping GDP per capita.

America is becoming a second world country.

Norway is sitting on top of an ocean of oil. That's the only way welfare states can pay for all the promises they make. Any other circumstance puts you on the road to bankruptcy.

Norway is not even in the top ten in oil production.

Norway produces about 7 billion barrels anually. At $50/bbl that's about $350 billion in revenue. spread among 5 million poeple that's a significant amount of money per person. It's more than enough to pay for the entire budget.

You would be suprised how far your money can go when you do not out spend the entire rest of the world on defense, 90% of all county money on courts, cops and jails.

The military is only 18% of our budget. You'd be surprised how much you can spend on welfare when the USA is providing your military defense for you. I'm not clear what the significance of the county budget is, but most of it is spent on schools, not cops.

Spread out the money that the CEOs make to the workers who actually spend thier money in the local economy. CEO's there do not make 1000 times their workers sa\ary. They are a large exporter as they have a small population and do not use all the oil they produce.

The money CEOs get paid is a drop in the bucket compared to the total for the rest of the workforce.

I've already explained how Norway is lucky to be sitting on an ocean of oil. That's something countries have no control over unless they invade a country that has oil.

 

[bripat9643]

What else does most western europe countries have over America
1. Low prison population. In America we have the biggest on earth as everything is illegal!
2. Getting sick can fucking destroy your life here in America...That doesn't happen in western europe.

Oh'yesss, loserterianism is so fucking free and wonderful. About as free as living in somalia and wondering if you're going to get blown away in the middle of the night.

Here's a hint.
Immigrants are 22 percent of federal prison population

And half of those prisoners are illegal immigrants. But here’s the thing. Most prisoners are in state prisons and local jails and in total, immigrants make up only 4% of the total number of people who are incarcerated. Given that immigrants make up 13% of the US population, immigrants commit disproportionally FEWER crimes than natural born citizens.

There were approximately 2,217,000 prisoners in the US. Federal prisons held 215,000 of those prisoners or less than 10% of that total. The rest were in state and local prisons.

Incarceration in the United States - Wikipedia

I love it when racist, xenophobic posts blow up in your faces.

LIke everything you post, that's unadulterated bullshit.

July 15, 2015 - EVERY PRO-IMMIGRATION CLAIM IS A LIE​

The second alleged proof that immigrants are shockingly law-abiding is the claim, "studies show ..."! Evidently, this refers to exactly two researchers, whose work is cited over and over again for the proposition that immigrants are less criminal than native Americans: Alex Piquero, criminology professor at the University of Texas at Dallas, and Bianca Bersani, sociology professor at the University of Massachusetts, Boston.

Pew cites their studies -- and everyone in the media cites Pew, leading to headlines like these:

"UT Dallas prof finds immigrant kids less likely to commit serious crimes, re-offend" -- The Dallas Morning News

"UMass Boston Prof: Stereotype of 'Criminal Immigrant' Doesn't Hold Up" -- Targeted News Service

"Surprise! Donald Trump is wrong about immigrants and crime" -- The Washington Post

Curiously, we are never shown the actual studies.

I looked up the studies this weekend. They're all hidden behind ridiculous Internet paywalls. I was often only the sixth person to read them.

It turns out that neither Piquero nor Bersani compared immigrant crime to "the overall population" -- as the British Guardian claimed in an article purporting to prove Donald Trump wrong. Rather, they compare immigrants' crime rate to the crime rate of America's criminals.

Thus, for example, once you get past the paywall, you will find that Piquero and Bersani's joint study, "Comparing Patterns and Predictors of Immigrant Offending Among a Sample of Adjudicated Youth," used as its base group, American adolescents "who were found guilty of a serious offense."

THAT'S NOT A REPRESENTATIVE SAMPLE OF AMERICANS! It's a representative sample of convicted criminal Americans.

Similarly, professor Bersani's oft-cited, but never-read, "An Examination of First and Second Generation Immigrant Offending Trajectories," looked at a population group that included "an over-sample of Hispanic and African-American youth."

​

 

[bripat9643]

What else does most western europe countries have over America
1. Low prison population. In America we have the biggest on earth as everything is illegal!
2. Getting sick can fucking destroy your life here in America...That doesn't happen in western europe.

Oh'yesss, loserterianism is so fucking free and wonderful. About as free as living in somalia and wondering if you're going to get blown away in the middle of the night.

Here's a hint.
Immigrants are 22 percent of federal prison population

And half of those prisoners are illegal immigrants. But here’s the thing. Most prisoners are in state prisons and local jails and in total, immigrants make up only 4% of the total number of people who are incarcerated. Given that immigrants make up 13% of the US population, immigrants commit disproportionally FEWER crimes than natural born citizens.

There were approximately 2,217,000 prisoners in the US. Federal prisons held 215,000 of those prisoners or less than 10% of that total. The rest were in state and local prisons.

Incarceration in the United States - Wikipedia

I love it when racist, xenophobic posts blow up in your faces.

Nore proof that you're full of shit:

Illegal Alien Crime Accounts for over 30% of Murders in Many States - Breitbart

Let’s look at a few numbers. You haven’t seen them in the New York Times, Atlanta Constitution, or the Miami Herald, nor have they been featured on NBC Nightly news or CNN. So, the average American is blissfully unaware of them.\

• Between 2008 and 2014, 40% of all murder convictions in Florida were criminal aliens. In New York it was 34% and Arizona 17.8%.
• During those years, criminal aliens accounted for 38% of all murder convictions in the five states of California, Texas, Arizona, Florida and New York, while illegal aliens constitute only 5.6% of the total population in those states.
• That 38% represents 7,085 murders out of the total of 18,643.

That 5.6% figure for the average illegal alien population in those five states comes from US Census estimates. We know the real number is double that official estimate. Yet, even if it is 11%, it is still shameful that the percentage of murders by criminal aliens is more than triple the illegal population in those states.

. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

The federal Bureau of Prisons category “criminal aliens” includes legal immigrants who have been convicted of serious crimes, but over 90% of incarcerated criminal aliens are illegal aliens, so it is reasonable to use these numbers as a close approximation of the extent of illegal alien crime.

Similar data is available at the state level if state officials have the desire to look for it. The Texas Department of Public Safety reports that between 2008 and 2014, 35% of the all murder convictions were illegal aliens—averaging 472 murders each year from 2004 to 2008.​

 

[Bootney Lee Farnsworth]

The commies are still trying to win.

 

[Flopper]

What else does most western europe countries have over America
1. Low prison population. In America we have the biggest on earth as everything is illegal!
2. Getting sick can fucking destroy your life here in America...That doesn't happen in western europe.

Oh'yesss, loserterianism is so fucking free and wonderful. About as free as living in somalia and wondering if you're going to get blown away in the middle of the night.

I spent some time in northern Europe. The biggest difference I notice was that people seemed basically happier than in the US. They didn't worry as much but they seemed to have a lot less. Kids rode their bikes across town and did a lot of things that in the US would drive parents nuts with fear. Kids as young as 14 or 15 travel across Europe without parents. Local news was a bit boring as it should be. The morning news was about sports, local happenings instead of local murders and rapes. People didn't worry so much about educating the kids, retirement, and their job. People had more time off to spend with family, hobbies, and vacations. You got sick leave and people rarely lost their job because they got sick. Healthcare was free, however people were not free to chose any medication or medical procedure. You had to pay a small fee to see a doctor. Their healthcare systems seem to pay much more attention to mental health. People seem to be much more knowledgeable about what was happening in the world and traveled more for pleasure than in the US but I don't think they spent as much as in the US.

It was certainly no utopia. Taxes were much higher than in the US, starting your own business was harder, there were more regulations, gasoline was very expensive, and luxury items seem much more expensive, but people didn't complain near as much as they do in the US. The people I visited had much smaller houses and apartments than in the US and they seem to spend less time at home. Although lots of people owned motor vehicles, they used public transportation extensively.

 

[Thinker101]

What else does most western europe countries have over America
1. Low prison population. In America we have the biggest on earth as everything is illegal!
2. Getting sick can fucking destroy your life here in America...That doesn't happen in western europe.

Oh'yesss, loserterianism is so fucking free and wonderful. About as free as living in somalia and wondering if you're going to get blown away in the middle of the night.

Here's a hint.
Immigrants are 22 percent of federal prison population

And half of those prisoners are illegal immigrants. But here’s the thing. Most prisoners are in state prisons and local jails and in total, immigrants make up only 4% of the total number of people who are incarcerated. Given that immigrants make up 13% of the US population, immigrants commit disproportionally FEWER crimes than natural born citizens.

There were approximately 2,217,000 prisoners in the US. Federal prisons held 215,000 of those prisoners or less than 10% of that total. The rest were in state and local prisons.

Incarceration in the United States - Wikipedia

I love it when racist, xenophobic posts blow up in your faces.

And my post indicated why we have the highest....dumbass.

 

[Admiral Rockwell Tory]

One thing all third world countries have in common is the rich couple of percent have nearly all the wealth and the poor can never move upwards. That is what liberterianism and the koch brothers are doing to our country.

Wake the fuck up.

If you can't move upwards, it is by your own choice.

 

[bripat9643]

What else does most western europe countries have over America
1. Low prison population. In America we have the biggest on earth as everything is illegal!
2. Getting sick can fucking destroy your life here in America...That doesn't happen in western europe.

Oh'yesss, loserterianism is so fucking free and wonderful. About as free as living in somalia and wondering if you're going to get blown away in the middle of the night.

I spent some time in northern Europe. The biggest difference I notice was that people seemed basically happier than in the US. They didn't worry as much but they seemed to have a lot less. Kids rode their bikes across town and did a lot of things that in the US would drive parents nuts with fear. Kids as young as 14 or 15 travel across Europe without parents. Local news was a bit boring as it should be. The morning news was about sports, local happenings instead of local murders and rapes. People didn't worry so much about educating the kids, retirement, and their job. People had more time off to spend with family, hobbies, and vacations. You got sick leave and people rarely lost their job because they got sick. Healthcare was free, however people were not free to chose any medication or medical procedure. You had to pay a small fee to see a doctor. Their healthcare systems seem to pay much more attention to mental health. People seem to be much more knowledgeable about what was happening in the world and traveled more for pleasure than in the US but I don't think they spent as much as in the US.

It was certainly no utopia. Taxes were much higher than in the US, starting your own business was harder, there were more regulations, gasoline was very expensive, and luxury items seem much more expensive, but people didn't complain near as much as they do in the US. The people I visited had much smaller houses and apartments than in the US and they seem to spend less time at home. Although lots of people owned motor vehicles, they used public transportation extensively.

Cattle don't complain when they are led down the chute to the abattoir.

 

[francoHFW]

Actually the US started to go downhill with Reagan. HIs low tax rates on the rich make it impossible to have a Fair modern country.

`
Actually it started with LBJ and his "Great Society" initiatives". However noble it looks on paper, it was extremely poorly executed for the worst possible reasons.

On paper it looked like organized plunder, and that's exactly what it was. All such schemes turn out badly.

Absolute right-wing b*******, super dupe.

Over the past 35 years the American dream has gradually disappeared. The process was slow, so most people didn’t notice. They just worked a few more hours, borrowed a little more and cut back on non-essentials. But looking at the numbers and comparing them over long time periods, it is obvious that things have changed drastically. Here are the details:

1. WORKERS PRODUCE MORE BUT THE GAINS GO TO BUSINESS.

Over the past 63 years worker productivity has grown by 2.0% per year.

But after 1980, workers received a smaller share every year. Labor’s share of income (1992 = 100%):

1950 = 101%
1960 = 105%
1970 = 105%
1980 = 105% – Reagan
1990 = 100%
2000 = 96%
2007 = 92%

A 13% drop since 1980

2. THE TOP 10% GET A LARGER SHARE.

Share of National Income going to Top 10%:

1950 = 35%
1960 = 34%
1970 = 34%
1980 = 34% – Reagan
1990 = 40%
2000 = 47%
2007 = 50%

An increase of 16% since Reagan.

3. WORKERS COMPENSATED FOR THE LOSS OF INCOME BY SPENDING THEIR SAVINGS.

The savings Rose up to Reagan and fell during and after.

1950 = 6.0%
1960 = 7.0%
1970 = 8.5%
1980 = 10.0% – Reagan
1982 = 11.2% – Peak
1990 = 7.0%
2000 = 2.0%
2006 = -1.1% (Negative = withdrawing from savings)

A 12.3% drop after Reagan.

4. WORKERS ALSO BORROWED TO MAKE UP FOR THE LOSS.

Household Debt as percentage of GDP:

1965 = 46%
1970 = 45%
1980 = 50% – Reagan
1990 = 61%
2000 = 69%
2007 = 95%

A 45% increase after 1980.

5. SO THE GAP BETWEEN THE RICHEST AND THE POOREST HAS GROWN.

Gap Between the Share of Capital Income earned by the top 1%
and the bottom 80%:

1980 = 10%
2003 = 56%

A 5.6 times increase.

6. AND THE AMERICAN DREAM IS GONE.

The Probably of Moving Up from the Bottom 40% to the Top 40%:

1945 = 12%
1958 = 6%
1990 = 3%
2000 = 2%

A 10% Decrease.

Links:

1 = ftp://ftp.bls.gov/pub/special.requests/pf/totalf1.txt
1 = https://www.clevelandfed.org/Research/PolicyDis/No7Nov04.pdf
1 = Clipboard01.jpg (image)
2 – http://www.whitehouse.gov/omb/blog/09/04/27/CongratulationstoEmmanuelSaez/
3 = http://www.demos.org/inequality/images/charts/uspersonalsaving_thumb.gif
3 = U.S. Bureau of Economic Analysis (BEA)
4 = Federated Prudent Bear Fund (A): Overview
4 = The Fed - Financial Accounts of the United States - Z.1 - Current Release
5/6 = 15 Mind-Blowing Facts About Wealth And Inequality In America

Overview = http://www.ourfuture.org/blog-entry/2010062415/reagan-revolution-home-roost-charts

 

[cnm]

So let me get this straight. Non white Americans are preventing white Americans achieving life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness? I can see how that would cause butt hurt.

 

[cnm]

Cattle don't complain when they are led down the chute to the abattoir.

I can see you're bloviating, again, of that which you know nothing.

 

[Admiral Rockwell Tory]

One thing all third world countries have in common is the rich couple of percent have nearly all the wealth and the poor can never move upwards. That is what liberterianism and the koch brothers are doing to our country.

Wake the fuck up.

The 5 richest counties are in Virginia einstein

He said countries, not counties.

 

[Thinker101]

Actually the US started to go downhill with Reagan. HIs low tax rates on the rich make it impossible to have a Fair modern country.

`
Actually it started with LBJ and his "Great Society" initiatives". However noble it looks on paper, it was extremely poorly executed for the worst possible reasons.

On paper it looked like organized plunder, and that's exactly what it was. All such schemes turn out badly.

Absolute right-wing b*******, super dupe.

Over the past 35 years the American dream has gradually disappeared. The process was slow, so most people didn’t notice. They just worked a few more hours, borrowed a little more and cut back on non-essentials. But looking at the numbers and comparing them over long time periods, it is obvious that things have changed drastically. Here are the details:

1. WORKERS PRODUCE MORE BUT THE GAINS GO TO BUSINESS.

Over the past 63 years worker productivity has grown by 2.0% per year.

But after 1980, workers received a smaller share every year. Labor’s share of income (1992 = 100%):

1950 = 101%
1960 = 105%
1970 = 105%
1980 = 105% – Reagan
1990 = 100%
2000 = 96%
2007 = 92%

A 13% drop since 1980

2. THE TOP 10% GET A LARGER SHARE.

Share of National Income going to Top 10%:

1950 = 35%
1960 = 34%
1970 = 34%
1980 = 34% – Reagan
1990 = 40%
2000 = 47%
2007 = 50%

An increase of 16% since Reagan.

3. WORKERS COMPENSATED FOR THE LOSS OF INCOME BY SPENDING THEIR SAVINGS.

The savings Rose up to Reagan and fell during and after.

1950 = 6.0%
1960 = 7.0%
1970 = 8.5%
1980 = 10.0% – Reagan
1982 = 11.2% – Peak
1990 = 7.0%
2000 = 2.0%
2006 = -1.1% (Negative = withdrawing from savings)

A 12.3% drop after Reagan.

4. WORKERS ALSO BORROWED TO MAKE UP FOR THE LOSS.

Household Debt as percentage of GDP:

1965 = 46%
1970 = 45%
1980 = 50% – Reagan
1990 = 61%
2000 = 69%
2007 = 95%

A 45% increase after 1980.

5. SO THE GAP BETWEEN THE RICHEST AND THE POOREST HAS GROWN.

Gap Between the Share of Capital Income earned by the top 1%
and the bottom 80%:

1980 = 10%
2003 = 56%

A 5.6 times increase.

6. AND THE AMERICAN DREAM IS GONE.

The Probably of Moving Up from the Bottom 40% to the Top 40%:

1945 = 12%
1958 = 6%
1990 = 3%
2000 = 2%

A 10% Decrease.

Links:

1 = ftp://ftp.bls.gov/pub/special.requests/pf/totalf1.txt
1 = https://www.clevelandfed.org/Research/PolicyDis/No7Nov04.pdf
1 = Clipboard01.jpg (image)
2 – http://www.whitehouse.gov/omb/blog/09/04/27/CongratulationstoEmmanuelSaez/
3 = http://www.demos.org/inequality/images/charts/uspersonalsaving_thumb.gif
3 = U.S. Bureau of Economic Analysis (BEA)
4 = Federated Prudent Bear Fund (A): Overview
4 = The Fed - Financial Accounts of the United States - Z.1 - Current Release
5/6 = 15 Mind-Blowing Facts About Wealth And Inequality In America

Overview = http://www.ourfuture.org/blog-entry/2010062415/reagan-revolution-home-roost-charts

Be sure to send us a postcard when you get to Norway.

 

[irosie91]

One thing all third world countries have in common is the rich couple of percent have nearly all the wealth and the poor can never move upwards. That is what liberterianism and the koch brothers are doing to our country.

Wake the fuck up.

The 5 richest counties are in Virginia einstein

He said countries, not counties.

it is forbidden to cite ONE LETTER typos----slip of the forefinger you NIT PICKER

 

[francoHFW]

This country ranks No. 1 for life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness (its not America)
This country ranks No. 1 for ‘life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness’ (it’s not America)

Norway ranked the No. 1 place for happiness and personal freedom, according to an analysis of three separate studies on life expectancy by the World Bank, on civil liberties from Freedom House, a New York-based nonprofit that conducts research on advocacy and democracy, on happiness from the Sustainable Development Solutions Network (SDSN), a group linked to the United Nations, and on rule of law from the World Justice Project, a Washington, D.C.-based nonprofit.

...

The U.S. has seen its happiness slide happiness over the last decade. In 2007, it ranked No. 3 among the Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development countries. Last year, it was 19th, down from 13th the year before. “The predominant political discourse in the United States is aimed at raising economic growth, with the goal of restoring the American Dream and the happiness that is supposed to accompany it. But the data show conclusively that this is the wrong approach,” the report concluded.

For those interviewed in the report, perception is reality. At least, as far as their happiness is concerned and, experts say, the divisive political climate likely hasn’t helped. “The United States can and should raise happiness by addressing America’s multi-faceted social crisis — rising inequality, corruption, isolation, and distrust — rather than focusing exclusively or even mainly on economic growth, especially since the concrete proposals along these lines would exacerbate rather than ameliorate the deepening social crisis,” the report said.

...

The U.S showed less social support, less sense of personal freedom, lower donations, and more perceived corruption of government and business, it said. “America’s crisis is, in short, a social crisis, not an economic crisis… Almost all of the policy discourse in Washington, D.C. centers on naïve attempts to raise the economic growth rate, as if a higher growth rate would somehow heal the deepening divisions and angst in American society. This kind of growth-only agenda is doubly wrong-headed.”

Social democracies lead the world!!! High political freedom, strong safetynet, educated population and high GDP per capita!

WTF does America have??? Low political freedom, weak safetynet that a certain party wants to do away with all together and to hell with the suffering poor, one of the lowest in education but the religious like it that way and a dropping GDP per capita.

America is becoming a second world country.

Comparing Norway to America is idiotic considering America is made up of many races and creeds, Norway, not so much.

That should have no effect, unless we're racists... Actually that does make it difficult, the racism that is...

Should be and doesn't are too different things.

Think about it, if the country was filled with francos, would they be more likely to live in peace together?

Tell me a country where diversity has lead to peace. The blacks use the whites as excuses as do the whites use the blacks...why? And what is going to solve such a problem?

Look at South Africa, blacks took over and now it is open season on white farmers.

So pass the 2010 Democratic immigration bill with a social security ID card that can't be faked and and illegal immigration. End of story. Forget the stupid wall and other crap from the GOP which loves this cheap easily bullied labor, dupe.