Ignorance is Bliss?
George Will's latest column highlights a recent study which found that conservatives, on average, are happier than liberals. His column--which I suspect is intended to be taken somewhat tongue-in-cheek--is chocked full of rather simplistic stereotypes. His basic point seems to be that liberals are less happy because they are too concerned about the world's problems (consumerism, poverty, destruction of the environment, etc.) He ends the column by observing:
Isn't this just sort of an ass backwards way of saying that ignorance is bliss? Or perhaps more accurately, apathy is bliss? If so, then I agree with Will for the second time in a week.
Liberalism is a complicated and exacting, not
to say grim and scolding, creed. And not one
conducive to happiness.
Isn't this just sort of an ass backwards way of saying that ignorance is bliss? Or perhaps more accurately, apathy is bliss? If so, then I agree with Will for the second time in a week.
posted by A.L. at 12:29 AM
3 Comments:
Will's argument is backward. I'd think it isn't that liberalism makes for unhappiness, but that people who are pretty happy with things as they are, such as those who have a lot of advantages, try to conserve their advantages. And those who aren't happy with how things are, try to liberate themeselves from their constraints.
I always felt that liberalism isn't really a philosophy, it's more of an attitude of trying to help those who need it. Conservatism, as it's practiced, is a philosophy--that is, an excuse to ignore what's actually happening.
What is happiness concept?If you are happy with a world unchanged while is it changing?.Dont see poverty and crazy things as Irak war.?You can be happy but your are outside od the very real life and this is a vey dangerous situation.
Insanity is the correct word for people happy in a horror world
You know, I imagine the study is probably pretty accurate, but that if you took it during the Clinton years, the exact opposite result would be reached. Of course, conservatives would be happier than liberals right now -- they run everything -- and right into the ground. How could anyone who opposes the destruction this administration has wreaked on the world NOT be depressed from time to time.
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