Are politically least informed citizens happier?

[trumad]

My wife, who's semi-in-to-politics has said to me that I always seem to be pissed off especially when politics is involved. I must admit, she's right.

I often wonder if I was politically clueless as to what was happening in DC and beyond, would I be happier?

Now don't get me wrong-- when I get away from thinking about politics, I'm a pretty happy dude... problem is, I'm addicted to it (IE, this place and other blogs) and it's a big part of my life. So a good part of my day is thinking about politics.

When I read about the corruption in DC---I'm pissed. When I read about the corruption in Iraq...I'm pissed. When I read that the Bush Admin scuttled Kyoto, I'm pissed.... When I read that 5 soldiers were killed in Iraq I get depressed and really pissed..... and on and on and on. I've been really pissed for the last 10 years...Almost to the point of hatred.... and yes, it does effect my personal life.

SO--- I'm thinking.... why not turn into one of those fellows that Jay Leno interviews for his show--- you know, the person who thinks Nancy Pelosi is an actor on CSI.

[annabanana]

1. Ignorance is Bliss. . . . . . n/t

[bdamomma]

7. Ignorance will be mankinds downfall, something I heard and

will never forget.

[no_hypocrisy]

25. "The most violent element in society is ignorance."

Emma Goldman

[helderheid]

26. yep.

[Philosoraptor]

2. Sweet bliss.

How I long for it, the numb, soothing, reassuring fog of cluelessness, the blank stare of the overly entertained, is there a pill I can take?

[H2O Man]

3. No.

Not really.

[trumad]

6. LOL

I have a pilot for a TV show in mind for you... The premise is that someone gives you a pill and then you become politically ignorant. You then walk around in your robe all day acting like you're looking for something. It gets canceled after 2 episodes because only DUers found it funny and others just didn't get it.

A clueless H2O man... now that's funny.

[H2O Man]

10. What is the middle name

of the show? Are the initials "H.H.H." somehow associated with it? Are we talking "The Politics of Joy"?

[trumad]

12. No--- It's called H2O Man

the name is perfect.

[magellan]

4. I think they're happier not suffering the soul-destroying frustration

...of being politically aware. But their lack of interest may make them very unhappy indeed, in the long run.

[acmavm]

5. Idiots and ignoramuses may be happier, but then again it's

almost an obscenity to not understand what your own government is doing. To you, to your fellow citizen, and to other nations.

Life was not meant to be a blissful state of stupidity.

[The2ndWheel]

8. Happiness is a sham

And the pursuit of it is the worst idea anyone ever came up with.

Alright, alright, alright, not THE worst, but it is up there.

[jarab]

20. Tell me you're kidding.

Some of the seemingly happiest people I know are politically ignorant.

I know when my Dad died in 82 I had no time to remain aware of current events for about two weeks. My mind felt refreshed afterwards. Then I became reengaged, and became again as the OP describes - somewhat miserable with the mostly helpless knowledge of daily occurrences.

I'm of a mind that those who are politically disengaged - and yet still voting - are selecting our representatives - as evenly divided as we are.

I'd prefer everyone be enlightened - and miserable - if the choice were that simple.

...O...

[ripple]

29. A lot of them just find other bad news to depress them

Natalie Holloway, celebrity deaths, true crime stories, etc.

The media is keeping all of the bases covered, especially the cable news media. Larry King fills quite the niche for people who want to pretend to be informed by watching CNN, but who only have an interest in sensationalistic crap that has little bearing on the real world. Nancy Grace falls into that category, as well.

On edit: Sorry, I intended to reply to the OP

[nuxvomica]

9. Many of them are just in denial

And I don't think that makes you happy. It just creates a cloud of free-floating anxiety. They don't have the acute episodes of outrage but they must chronically sense that things are wrong and can't properly map their anxiety to a narrative. I wouldn't worry about your awareness.

[trumad]

11. free-floating anxiety

I like that.... excellent point.

[KittyWampus]

13. the less aware you are of how the world works, the more at mercy to external factors

you become.

[groovedaddy]

14. Happiness occurs on different levels of our experience

Not paying attention doesn't promote a healthier body politic.
There are healthy ways to dissipate/channel anger/sadness depression, etc. The main way is to DO SOMETHING ABOUT IT. Of course, anyone can choose to ignore what's going on but eventually it will get shoved in your face, one way or the other.
I speak with many people about politics, most of whom are angry/despondent about our current state of affairs. But mostly what they do is bitch and complain, with little action - other than voting - which isn't to be discounted.
I have worked on numerous issue advocacy and candidate campaigns. In issue advocacy, I can't count the times when the situation looked dire - impossible, etc. but I (& others) hung in there in pursuing our goal. I have been successful more often than not. Mostly, it was just a matter of hanging with it and pressing ahead, even in the face of seemingly insurmountable odds. But then something happens and the tide turns. That "something" may or may not be related to the work done by well-meaning people, but it doesn't matter as long as the goal is achieved.
People may be happier because they don't pay attention, but that is a happiness that won't last.

[crispini]

35. Agree WRT doing something about it.

It feels SO GOOD to go to a DFA meetup, or to a city council meeting, or write a LTTE, and know that at least I'm TRYING to be part of the solution.

[PA Democrat]

15. No. I think it's possible to be both happy in your personal life while outraged

about what is happening politically.

You have to take joy and happiness where you find it in life. For me, it's the little things that add up to personal happiness: dinner with good friends, a hug from my kids, a joke shared with my husband, the sight my flower garden when it is at its best, watching my daughter with autism accomplish things no one thought possible.

Happiness is a mental attitude that sometimes takes an effort to maintain.

Also I've found that many people who are politically uninformed get caught up in being angry about all the wrong things like the war on Christmas, gay marriage, welfare recipients, etc.

[CrazyOrangeCat]

23. Well said.

There are moments of happiness. And that's just the way it is.

[KittyWampus]

16. Also, people can be informed politically but clueless in dealing w/ people

or totally screwed up when it comes to spirituality.

[Libby2]

17. I would say, yes.

As others have said, ignorance is bliss.

[w4rma]

18. Yes if the rest of their life is stable. No if the political forces they don't understand come and

knock them for a loop.

[sendero]

19. Following politics ...

... is like taking out the trash. It's not a pleasant activity but it has to be done.

The only reason we have this crop of losers running the country is that so few Americans DO pay attention to what is going on.

[Frustratedlady]

21. Yes and no!

This is a good example of politically-deprived. A dear friend does not have a clue what is going on, does not listen to political news spots but does vote. Go figure! To show how totally out of politics he is, I once mentioneed Karl Rove. His response? "Who's Karl Rove?" That is bliss!

Another was deeply into politics, but was getting his information from FAUX News. We had some heated arguments until he finally realized he'd been had by this administration and his version of the media. He no longer listens to the news...no how, no way. It got his blood pressure levels dangerously high and depressed him. However, he is now concerned about what is going on that he doesn't know about, even though he refuses to listen. So, even though he still has the stress, his blood pressure is down. Oh, and he is no longer a Republican.

[NJCher]

22. Frame of reference

I think it depends on how you see being here and what your role is. Because you choose to take a look at the big picture, you see the problems that are facing us as a whole (or as a nation, or as a state, or as a municipality--whatever your scale).

My personal frame of reference is that we are here to solve problems. Problems are not a bad thing. Imagine what a boring world it would be if everything went "swimmingly."

I once became angry and frustrated over problems, but I had an epiphany and I learned that problems are assignments to tackle. It doesn't seem productive to be angry about an assignment. Channel that anger into motivation to solve the problem. Anger is, however, healthy. It shows you care and that you understand.

I can see why we got a person like bush as president. It is because we as a nation have taken our democracy for granted. We have put so little into it. In the very short time of six years, having a disaster like bush has shown millions of people that democracy cannot be taken for granted. It has spurred a new involvement in public affairs: just look at the human sign "impeach" on DU's home page today.



Cher

[Captain Hilts]

24. No. My mother watches the news constantly and is miserable. nt

[Alamom]

27. The few people I know who show no interest in Politics or World

Affairs are indeed, very happy.



Whereas those of us who pay attention to everything are usually affected in negative ways, mostly...for now, with a few happy days here and there such as Nov 7, etc.

[windbreeze]

28. Absolutely...n/t

[shance]

30. If every citizen did their part, we who are active wouldn't have to carry all the weight

and would be less pissed off because others would be active and there wouldn't be as much corruption, because corruption can only breed when citizens are not actively involved and holding 'leaders' accountable.

People who aren't active are throwing their responsibilities as a citizen on everyone else.

[verse18]

31. Ignorance may be bliss,

but it's still ignorance.

[Uncle Joe]

32. It's like going on a long trip,

your wife might be happier sleeping along the way, but somebody better drive. :)

[crispini]

33. No, they're just unhappy about trivial shit.

Actually, I wonder the same myself sometime. However, as a person who is naturally interested in the world around him, you are not going to be able to hide your head in the sand. I think the trick here is to develop a sort of detachement towards your own feelings. That's what I try to do. In Buddhism when they teach you to meditate, they say that you should just observe your thoughts and let them go, like a balloon up into the bright blue sky. If I am mad, or sad, or whatever, I just sort of become the observer, and think, "Oh, this is me being mad. This is what it feels like" and observe it and let it go.

I had to learn to do this, otherwise my emotions would have driven me 'round the bend. It's amazing how passionate one can get over things (war, environment, etc.) that just roll off other people.

[Me.]

34. No

Just more confused. They're clueless as to why their lives & world is in shambles.