Do you really think Republicans are happier than Democrats?

[Iris]

I'm talking about that phone survey that makes this claim.

I'm a Democrat who lives in the South and from what I see, people here are Republicans because they feel they are being shortchanged. These Republicans can't stand to see anyone getting something they don't have or that they think someone shouldn't have. This doesn't apply to the rich because there seems to be the idea that people with a lot of money somehow deserve it. I seriously doubt most Republicans in this state (Georgia) are rich. It seems to boil down to racism - against African Americans, immigrants, and "trash" (although the definition of trash largely depends on who is using the term.)

I don't understand how someone whose basic outlook involves being angry because you believe someone else is getting something you're not (even if you don't need it) can make you a happier person.


Does anyone here know a lot of happy Republicans? The ones I run into are often bitter and angry - at least politically.

[Droopy]

1. I can see how Republicans are happier right now

They've got their man running the show. If the same survey were taken in 1994 I bet you'd see a different story.

[ChairmanAgnostic]

4. actually, I think they are running scared. This responsibility thingie is

harder than they thought.

Look at Missouri, Kansas, South Dakota, North Carolina, Indiana, and their push for some crazy rightwing stuff before November. They see the end coming, and then, they will fully see all the damage they have done to our country.

[Iris]

22. Supposedly, this survey is done regularly

and it always turns out the same.

[SharonAnn]

29. "Ignorance is Bliss!" If they are, that's why.

[Radio_Guy]

75. Good point

The more educated and aware you are, the less happy you are about current events. The less educated and aware you are, the more you are happy. My preschool niece doesn't know a thing about the Iraq War and she is very happy. The more I read about Bushco, the more mad I get.

[purji]

87. that was my first thought too.

Great minds think alike I guess.

[BOSSHOG]

2. I think we should look at what makes them happy

Hating homosexuals, blowing up abortion clinics, slaughtering "ragheads", cutting social programs for non white people, meddling in the affairs of other peoples bedrooms, lauding the deeds of the criminals in the bush administration, listening to limbaugh and faux news twist the facts for their benefit. I'd say republicans are pretty happy when they have targets available for their disdain.

[Iris]

5. That's what baffles me, I guess.

How can hating so much make you a happier person?

Or is it they feel like they belong when they are hating another group?

[acmejack]

19. Heck, they're nibbling away at VA benefits!

The government is "stealing" my money crowd! arrgh!

I suggest they are just basically miserable people, they're the ones that are always bitching no matter what. The guys that complained when the were stationed in Hawaii "Another shitty day in paradise!" crowd. You know the type. Chronic complainers, nothing is good enough ever.

[Iris]

21. That's my take on it.

I mean, I've sat in half-million dollar homes and listened to people bitch about immigrants and African Americans. As if either of those two groups has forced them into a $500K home instead of a million dollar home, which I'm sure they consider their just reward for being good and "conservative".

[Name removed]

3. Deleted message

Message removed by moderator. Click here to review the message board rules.

[Iris]

6. Huh?

You'll have to give a little bit more than that for me to understand what you are saying.

I'm not projecting anything. I'm just saying what I've observed, which is a lot of bitterness coming from people around me who call themselves "conservative."

[freeplessinseattle]

7. oh, the irony

happy as a clam

[SammyWinstonJack]

16. PROJECTION It's a Republican thing and who cares if they are upset

I don't give it a second thought, personally. I doubt anyone here at DU wants them to be upset. :eyes: Looks like you are the one who is confused.

[magneto]

25. you're right

I shouldn't assume.

[Commie Pinko Dirtbag]

61. Ooops, slipped. Made yourself TOO obvious with that one, didn't you?

By the way, by popular request, this has been brought to you by

[Iris]

62. Commie - I think you're referring to someone who's more, shall

we say, magnetic than I?

[Commie Pinko Dirtbag]

63. Check again. I did reply to Mr. Erik Lensheer. -nt

[liberalpress]

8. Did you ever know people...

...who were happy whn they were victims? To me most republicans are like that. Christians make up better than 80% of the population, yet they are being "discriminated" against. They control the House, the Senate, the Executive Branch yet the liberals are in charge and must be destroyed? They dig being victims. Don't know why.

[MADem]

26. It's MUNCHAUSEN's!! They do it to THEMSELVES!

If they didn't bother with all the people they hated, they'd be happy as a pig in a wallow!

[zanne]

45. I'm reminded of that every time I see a "Jesus fish".

The nuns used to tell us that early Christians had to use the symbol of a fish to indicate where worship was being held, or they'd be killed or tortured, or fed to the lions, etc. I think conservatives long for those good ole' days.

[Mayberry Machiavelli]

85. Ya, Daily Show had some clip from some Repub gathering, where they

actually used scenes from "Star Wars" to pump up their minions, with the REPUBS as the Rebel Alliance, and Darth Nancy Pelosi as head of the evil empire of Dems.

After showing the clip, Jon Stewart was slack jawed with amazement. He then made the quiet comment that, um, when you countrol the WH & all branches of Congress... um, YOU're the Empire! Sigh.

[Iris]

89. ha! Like that cell phone company where the executive says he's "stickin'

it to the man" and the mail room guy says, "But. . . you ARE the man!"

[benburch]

9. Most of the ones that I know are pretty happy.

Ignorance is bliss, after all.

[Iris]

17. Yes. I think that angle is valid.

When you only care about yourself and your immediate circumstances, it's easy to go through life with blinders on.

[Bushy Being Born]

43. "If you're not pissed off at the world,

then you're just not paying attention."

[iconoclastic cat]

10. Ignorance, bliss, etc. n/t

[Bleacher Creature]

71. Short and sweet -- and exactly right. n/t

[acmavm]

11. Considering their disconnect from reality, who knows? They seem to

focus on other people's genitalia and believe everything fat phony preachers in $2000.00 suits tell them. They don't have to think for themselves, they believe any liar who comes down the pike with a good yarn to sell. Especially if the yarns makes them feel superior and good about themselves and is spun by another republican (i.e. 1. We are attacking because Saddam has nukes he's gonna use on us; (then when that fell through) 2. We are bringing freedome to an oppressed people.)

Are they happier? I don't know. Do they show more criminal tendencies? Hell yes. Are they stupid? Apparently. They can be told over and over and over again about the crimes of the bush** family, (Prescott, Poopy, Neil, Jeb, and Fearless Leader) and they still think of them as highly moral individuals.

So, if ignorance is bliss, then I imagine republicans are delerious.

[abluelady]

12. Thank goodness I Don't Know

any republicans that well. But my guess is they are happier because they don't think. If you think at all, you shouldn't be too happy nowadays.

[BlackHeart]

15. WOW!

Where do you live, work and play that you don't have to mingle with any Republicans? I want to move there!

[abluelady]

57. I live in a red state

but keep myself isolated! It's better on the blood pressure!

[Iris]

59. I know what you mean.

I try to do the same, but it's damn near impossible when you have family who are "social"!

[Strathos]

13. Yes! They love to gloat

They love to be right, even if it means people die, and most of all they love being in control, even if it's illegally.

[azureblue]

14. yes they are happier

just like people who take mood alterants to control their personality disorders are "happier".

[blondeatlast]

18. No, because they can't be pissy about the Left now.

For some it's their reason for living, I swear.

[Iris]

50. Around here, they simply focus all their attention on one thing -

and this year it seems to be immigration - no distinction between illegal or legal - just "the problem of immigration"

I heard a snippet of Rush Limbaugh the other day saying how the "left isn't dead yet, just severely beat down, but they are waiting to attack again!"

Their demi-gods - Boortz, Rush, Hannity - will keep them stirred up forever.

[Jackpine Radical]

20. Ignorance is bliss.

I'm not kidding. I seem to recall some data (don't ask for a link right now) that showed people who are more in touch with reality tend to be slightly depressed. People who maintrain a delusional sort of false optimism were happier on whatever measure they used in the study.

Which brings another point to mind. What kind of measure did this study use? I bet it was some sort of unvalidated self-report. I suspect that a lot of those "happy" Puggies have that same glazed, tranced-out look in their eyes that the Jehovas Witnesses always seem to have when they come around with their apocalyptic literature. The Fundies are trained to say they're happy. They found Jeeeezus and all is right with the world. They have a moral obligation to be happy. They ARE happy, gosh darn it. They HAVE to be happy because Jeeeeezus wants them to be happy and they can't let the Big Guy down by admitting they're not happy just because the trailer roof leaks and the Gremlin's transmission is making a funny noise and the Mrs. lost her job at MallWart.

[Minnesota Libra]

23. Republicans think they are happy because they have a "party line".........

........to repeat in response to everything so they don't ever have to think for themselves.:freak:

Personally, I rarely see republicans smile much less have an out and out belly laugh.:shrug: They seem to me to be such miserable people constantly worrying what they have or can get but prevent anyone else from having.:wtf:

[MADem]

24. They're dancing as fast as they can

When Hitler was crushing Poland, Germans danced, too. When you put all your chips on ASSHOLE, you have to maintain a positive attitude as long as the wheel is spinning. As the wheel starts to slow down, that's when the looks of concern appear on the faces of the gamblers.

See, the cognitive dissonance is starting to catch up with them. Gas prices are going up, goods and services are costing more, and even their BushCo salaries are NOT KEEPING UP. Damn, Muffy, we have to keep the old Lexus for another year...I just can't swing a new one right now, darling!

When their local taxes go up to pay for rising administrative costs and the expense of beefing up the police force in response to increased crime -- which will happen, if people continue to be employed in marginal jobs, or unemployed so long the gubmint stops COUNTING them -- they'll discover that what they thought was happiness was actually an unrecognized FEAR.

Hey, it's all STRONG EMOTION...!!!! And they are not known for their discernment, are they?

[KharmaTrain]

27. If They're So Happy Why Do They Want To Be Me???

My usual line is the big difference is Democrats get laid and Repugnicans hate us because of it. But it goes into more frustration than that.

These are people stuck in the treadmill of trying to be better or bigger or richer or faster than the next guy. Their lives aren't measured on the person they are, but the person they appear to be. Their value is measured by income or status symbols and no matter how good you think you've done, there's always someone out there who is doing better. And, of course, anyone who knocks this "lifestyle" is a loser...cause they just can't "hack it".

Looking around my still predominately Repugnican neighborhood, I'm seeing a lot of long faces these days. Some are sad cause they've been deceived and lied to...lost jobs or some other problem traced to this regime...or are in total denial that anything is wrong and any attack is strictly personal.

Either way, sucks to be them. Last night I spoke with a nice lady in Virginia...a very religious woman (who I avoided getting into that discussion)...but I couldn't hold back when she complained how tough things are now...I asked if she voted for booooosh...she said she did...and I said "you deserve what you're getting"...and she still will vote a straight Repugnican ticket this fall.

[Iris]

65. I listened to one go on and on about health care the other day.

"They" need to do something about it. I really bit my tongue b/c this isn't someone I even care enough to get into it with. But she is a Bush voter and hates, hates, hates Hillary Clinton (for whatever good reason all white, suburban women hate her - I haven't figured it out yet. )

[ChristianLibrul]

28. Happier

Republicans who've stolen millions of our tax dollars in the last five years are happier.

[mondo joe]

30. I think they think they are happier, which amounts to much the same thing.

But I also think Republicans live with a lot of fear and bottomless need that can never be satisfied.

Like addicts who can never get enough of their substance of choice, Republicans can never get enough advantage, enough money, enough control over others. I think that gnaws at them.

[Iris]

36. well put.

I don't see a lot of contentment coming from those kind of people.

[magneto]

31. yeah, actually I DO know a lot of happy Pubbies

About half our family is rightwing and, ever since the last prez election, they've been happy as hell. It's so bad--and there's so many of them--that I think I'm going to have to skip the ol' family reunion this summer; Christmas etc. was bad enough.

[Tsiyu]

32. This discussion of happiness reminds me of the cuz who is

now a "life coach."

She married my cuz actually, and the two of them set off on a life of conspicuous consumerism that would make Paris Hilton blush...almost.

The Cabin Cruiser, the big house, the Mercedes and the high-dollar furniture, clothes and trips.

But cheap nannies. Oh, yeah. Hire any low-dollar wacko you can find to raise your kids while you are off hobnobbing with all the other "right kind." See how fast your kids get fucked up!

If you called these parents today, you would get the same lie: I possess shit therefor I am happy! I can never admit I fucked up, so of course I am happy! And I want to force my brand of happiness on you!

But if you talk to their kids, you'll get another story. Trust me.

I imagine the sad sacks you see nowadays in those McMansions are facing unhappy kids. They've given their kids EVERYTHING material to make up for their lack of depth, and now the poor dears can't afford to buy the babies their Abercrombie and Fitch or to just hand over the keys to the Land Rover.

Babies breast-fed on credit cry long and hard when you cut off the flow of material goods.

Look for a wave of crime among affluent kids desperate for the return of their spending money. Coming to your town soon.

My young cuz (whose mother is a "life coach!" How special!) will probably be one of them.

[zanne]

46. How big an ego do you need to become a "life coach"? nt

[Iris]

48. funny. Also, life coach's always seem to focus on material gain.

what a great way to make a living, eh?

[Tsiyu]

76. Yes, this woman is into "stuff"

and her image. It's pretty sad when you see what her struggle for perfection has done to her kids.

And yes, she has an ego from hell.

[Iris]

79. what a waste of a life.

I can't imagine going through life like that. At one time, I was on that track, but it really does come from inside and once you work that out, you realize there are better ways to live.

[raccoon]

53. And what do they do anyway?

My guess are most of them are self-proclaimed gurus, who are into victim blaming, like that dipstick that led the "executive boot camp" Barbara Ehrenreich told about in BAIT AND SWITCH.

Maybe we should all proclaim ourselves "life coaches" and make us a bunch of money. :sarcasm:

[glitch]

33. My republican brother and sister-in-law are miserable and angry.

The people driving around with W stickers on their cars look sullen. The republicans on tv are always angry and shouting.

But I can certainly see them lying about their feelings in a poll.

[Iris]

34. Anger. That's another thing I've observed.

I mentioned it's cousin, bitterness, but there's a lot of anger there, too.

I can see them lying as well because for the most part the people I know are all about "doing the right thing." They've followed a sort of pattern that they think is supposed to make them happy and by God, they are not going to admit being unhappy b/c they think following all the rules is what will make you happy, and they don't want anyone thinking they haven't been following the rules.

[glitch]

47. Exactly! And to admit they are miserable would take them off script.

Way too scary off script. Being angry is ok though, it's on the script.

I imagine their pharmaceuticals help, at least superficially.

[Iris]

49. Who needs pharmaceuticals when you have alcohol and credit cards?

[glitch]

56. Yeah I guess it's only their leaders who are heavily into the pharms.

Probably too expensive for the followers, while the leaders have excellent medical insurance that pays for it all.

[Toots]

35. Republicans seem to get great joy from belittling people and promoting

hatred. I think Republicans really enjoy hating. If they had no one to hate they would actually be quite miserable. Democrats right now have little to be happy about as far as the direction of our country and what passes for leadership in this country.

[Iris]

39. Yes, but you won't see that sort of analysis in the news reports

about this "telephone survey".

[bunkerbuster1]

37. winos and junkies acheive similar bliss at times

of course they're miserable a lot of the time as well.

When Goopers start talking about their fellow citizens and demonizing them, you can see the Goopers' blood pressure rising. They go batshit crazy about Muslims, for God's sakes.

[Iris]

38. here in the South, they go batshit crazy over "immigrants"

No real distinction between illegal and legal. Just immmigration as "a problem."

[cynatnite]

40. Happiness is overrated

Why can't they use the words satisfied or content. Maybe that's what they mean when they say 'happiness'.

I don't believe anyone is truly happy for an extended period of time.

Also, from what I read of that study, those with more money are 'happier' than those without. It goes to show where the priorities are and that's something I don't think I could be 'happy' about.

[Iris]

44. Good point, cynatnit

I wonder what they would say if they were asked the question in that context. Because, honestly, how can you be content when you hate so many groups of people and believe they are sucking away your resources?

[tom_paine]

41. Were Nazis "happier" than their Jewish victims?

The rush of power, the feeling of superiority & that the people who disaqgreed with you were subhuman vermin.

Yes, I suppose you could call that "happiness" in a sick psychotic way.

But that is as much of a stretch as resurrcting the "Fuhrerprinzip" as the "Unitary Executive".

[southernleftylady]

42. ignorance is bliss

[raccoon]

51. Iris, I could take your entire post, just changing "Georgia" to

"South Carolina", and that has been my experience too.

Many Republicans seem p.o. at liberals, minorities, "feminists", etc.

For a group that makes so much noise about pulling yourself up by your bootstraps, they blame other groups for the circumstances they themselves are in.

[Iris]

54. Right! How can all these groups cause so many problems

to the "self-sufficient"?

[countingbluecars]

52. I might be happier too

if I turned a blind eye to social injustice, torture, intolerance, bigotry, huge budget deficits, global warming, and so on and so on.

[DelawareValleyDem]

55. No, I do not. If they were really happy

they wouldn't bitch about every lifestyle, ethnicity, religion or political belief that doesn't conform to their narrow-minded view of how things should be.

[kevinbgoode]

58. Ignorance is bliss eom/

[sheelz]

60. I'm happy that

I'm not a Republican!

:dem:

[leftofthedial]

64. way more oblivious

I know many, many more repukes than Democrats

Nearly all of them are extremely self-centered. They only "notice" what's going on around them if it directly affects them. Same with politics. Until they find themselves seriously hurting, they are just completely unaware.

[tenshi816]

66. No, they're the ones who are angriest.

When they weren't in power, they were convinced that if they were, then things would be run to their liking and then they'd be happy. Problem is, once the Republicans took over, they proceeded to screw everything up - and the die-hard Republican citizens can't stand to admit their party can't govern, which makes them even angrier now that their party is in power than when it wasn't. They got what they wanted and it wasn't good, but they can't admit it, so it makes them angry.

I'm from Georgia too, or was (left years ago), and know what you mean about the number of Republicans who aren't rich. My family members are largely rabid Bush supporters but live from payday to payday. Most of them would rather have a limb than vote for something (a national health program, for example) that someone they consider "undeserving" might benefit from, even if it hurts them too.

I think Republicans suffer from a poverty of spirit, which is ironic when you consider how many of them consider themselves pious Christians.

[Iris]

78. "poverty of spirit"

Wow. You hit the nail on the head. But religion in these parts - well, it's not really about fulfillment, is it? My family is all from the mid-west and mid-atlantic area. I am struck most by the weddings here - so serious in tone all the way through to the reception - almost like funerals.

[tenshi816]

83. I left a part of a sentence out in my post

which means it made no sense. What I meant to say was: "Most of them would rather have a limb cut off than vote for something (a national health program, for example) that someone they consider "undeserving" might benefit from, even if it hurts them too." I hate when I do that.

Anyway, yeah, I like the phrase poverty of spirit because I think it describes most Republicans well, especially fundie ones. They're lacking in compassion, what I remember being called "the milk of human kindness" when I was a kid. Even when I was small, it never made sense to me that people who considered themselves to be good Christians could behave in such an un-Christlike manner.

About weddings - you got that right. In the USA, I have very limited experience with weddings outside of the south (went to an Italian wedding in New Jersey once that was a fine, fine experience, but that's it for me outside of Georgia and Tennessee), and I always hated going to weddings because of how somber they were. I also always knew that if the reception was going to be held in the hall adjacent to the church, then there would be bad food, no music, no alcohol, and the entire time would be spent making excruciating small talk with prissy, humorless people while drinking kool-aid punch and eating pigs in a blanket. The only good thing was knowing the occasion wouldn't last too long. I have to say that weddings and receptions in the UK are a lot more fun than the southern ones I've attended because even if it's on a tight budget (as mine was), the sense that it's a celebration and thus a time to have fun is always there.

[Iris]

84. Don't worry. I was able to understand your post just fine!

And I totally get what you mean about the celebration part of weddings! I always felt that was missing from the weddings from my friends. It made me sad because most of them married people their families and friends really loved - yet the funeral-like atmosphere was never overcome!

[Cha]

67. The Democrats around here are

way nicer, happier, and more well-adusted than the cult loving repubs.

The Dems are giving, artistic, talented, and have a lot of money to do the things they want.

The repubs always seem to have a stick up their collective ass.

I work in a community co-op so can observe both philosophies.

[lonestarnot]

68. Well when you're so damn stupid, you don't know when to come in out of

the rain, why wouldn't you be happy?

[Sparkly]

69. I'm with you

What you said fits with my personal observations -- they seem angry, selfish, bitter, hostile and underneath it all, insecure and afraid.

[Jade Fox]

70. No......

For starters, there's this:

http://www.berkeley.edu/news/media/releases/2003/07/22_politics.shtml

Also, I work with predominantly conservative Christians. Most of them appear to be fairly simple, and if I may be so arrogant, uninteresting folks who are a bit lost and helpless trying to function in the world. They appear to need a strict ideology and a like-minded herd to help them through life. Conservative Christianity (which emphasizes pre-packaged answers, not spiritual seeking) fills this need. They are not bad people, but I would hardly call them happy. They (like the above article concludes) do not handle complexity or spontaneity well, nor are they comfortable with "live and let live". They need others to be like them, so they tend to be control freaks. They have little judgment of their own, so choice makes them nervous (yes, this does relate to Choice in the abortion sense).

Conservatives are also brutally envious of us wacky Liberals, but our unpredictability, again, makes them uncomfortable. They have no sense of how much they utilize the the results of Liberalism. As I like to say, Conservatives would still be living in caves if some Liberal hadn't thought up huts.

[Iris]

80. " brutally envious of us wacky Liberals"

I've considered this - mostly b/c I've experienced it myself. Being envious of someone who dares to stray from the fold or the prescribed way of doing things. Until I dared do it myself! And now I can honestly say I'm a much happier person.

I also agree that their kind of faith is constructed merely to help them "get through" rather than to seek any kind of spiritual fulfillment.

Thanks for the link! I've got a big paper to write today, so I'm glad I'll have something new to look at when I take a break!

[Iniquitous Bunny]

72. What amazes me is the shear greed.

I'd venture most of these people call themselves "Christians". Christ was not a greedy man. If there's one thing I cannot stand is hypocrisy.

The Beatitudes

Blessed are the poor in spirit: for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.
Blessed are the meek: for they shall posses the land.
Blessed are they who mourn: for they shall be comforted. )
Blessed are they that hunger and thirst after justice: for they shall have their fill.
Blessed are the merciful: for they shall obtain mercy.
Blessed are the clean of heart: for they shall see God.
Blessed are the peacemakers: for they shall be called the children of God.
Blessed are they that suffer persecution for justice' sake, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.

[savemefromdumbya]

73. No, Republicans are always stressed

whether it is the amount of leaves blowing onto their lawns from their neighbors or pesky workers wanting more than the minimum wage...

[Raksha]

74. Years ago, my late husband used to say the Repuke philosophy

boils down to "Don't give anything to the n*****s. Throw our tax money down any drain you want, just don't give it to the n*****s."

I've been remembering those words more and more often lately. I really think he was right.

[Iris]

81. Once again, I have to say living in Georgia

that I've observed this to be true. Everyone here hates the Kennedys so much - and, why? BEcause they were very rich and wanted to help poor people - in other words "the blacks." All the personal weaknesses of that family are used by these people to show just how wrong they were for wanting to "help the n-----s". It makes me sick.

[Raksha]

86. Interesting that they single out the Kennedys

and that they STILL resent it after all this time.

[Iris]

88. Oh, believe me, it's not interesting at all. It's frustrating as hell!

And also speaks volumes about their resentment of anyone who has something they don't.

In fact, if the Kennedy's were southern, they'd love them for their bootlegging and womanizing.

[muse]

77. Good grief, no. They are wrapped up in fear.

That's what drives them is fear.

They are afraid their whole way of life will collapse, for some reason. So, they lash out at homosexuals, poor people, people who have a different religion than theirs, etc. It's not fun to talk to a Republican in depth about anything because their fearfulness about everything is so dark that it sucks the happiness right out of the room to the point that your own happiness is momentarily endangered. You gotta run from it as fast as you can!

[Iris]

82. Yes! And once I called a Republican out on this fear driven way of life

and she came back with "Liberals always act like fear is a bad thing!"