Status meeting. No one happy. Lots of bickering and complaining, lots of numbers going back and forth — but generally no one is happy. No joy.
It dawned on me that I had read a report once that said statistically Republicans are happier than Democrats. I didn’t bother to read the article to see why. So, I thought I would break up the general argumentative and negative mood and ask if anyone knew why that was.
In response, the four-eyed Asian staffer, what’s-his-name, turned and looked at me with almost quizzical disgust.
“Ms. Harris, I thought we all made it clear that you are no longer allowed to speak in these status meetings.” I’m pretty sure he knows I don’t like being called “Ms. Harris” — I’m the fucking VP after all. Madame VP or Queen of F*cking Everything is what I want them to call me.
Anywho. I let it slide because I really couldn’t think of anything to say back except, “I was raised in a Middle-Class family.” So, I decided to use our pal google to find out.
Apparently there isn’t like one definite reason: but study after study confirms that conservatives describe themselves significantly happier than liberals. And it was true when comparing across financial statuses. Like low income Conservatives v. low income Liberals, middle class Conservatives v. middle class liberals — etc.
One study actually described it like this:
Generally speaking, conservatives wake up feeling blessed with what they have. They are generally grateful for their lives, their families, their jobs. They try to help others through civic duty, volunteerism, and charitable contributions. They often believe in hard work, being kind, and a higher being. They love their country, even if they know there is room for improvement — they put their hand over their heart for the National Anthem and often find ways to work to improve what they can.
Liberals on the other hand wake up in a country that they feel is deeply flawed. They find fault in their families, criticize their neighbors beliefs, and blame others for their problems. The world around them is homophobic, transphobic, Islamophobic, intolerant — racist. They are oppressed by everyone and everything — including climate change which they feel is an existential threat. People who wake up and think the world is ending in 12 years because their neighbor took a plane ride last week… just hard to commit to happiness. There are too many things wrong around them to feel ok to be happy. They kneel for the National Anthem, burn flags, and have a higher rate of depression.
It’s the “glass half-full or glass half-empty” trick. And the left is more of a glass half empty group.
The staff are still bickering. Bunch of unhappy liberals, am I right?
We have three states today. I will give my nonsensical speech where I claim to be full of joy but tell them vote for me and stay unhappy, stay oppressed, and hate everything — and… turn the page on the peace and prosperity they could have with Trump. Because Trump is Hitler.
We good.