If not for twitter (and dh, of course), I wouldn’t have seen dh post the link to qik, where the live GOP press conference is going on. The house GOP totally rocks! After all, all they want is an up or down vote on gas prices. What’s so hard about that? The dems always say they want to help the people, but walk out when an opportunity to do so comes around.

UPDATE: I think you can still see the qik video, but you can also listen to “Media Lizzy” over on blog talk radio and hear her talk about it and interview congressman

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I thought we were a miserable people here in the US. At least that’s what the libs keep telling us. But according to the newest WVS, we’re happier now than 25 years ago. Huh.

From the Science Daily

“Though by no means the happiest country in the world, from a global perspective the U.S. looks pretty good,” says Ronald Inglehart, a political scientist at the university, who directs the study. “The country is not only prosperous; it ranks relatively high in gender equality, tolerance of ethnic and social diversity and has high levels of political freedom.”

Researchers measured happiness by simply asking people how happy they were, and how satisfied they were with their lives as a whole. Ninety-seven percent of respondents–an exceptionally high response rate–gave answers that strongly correlated with how satisfied they were with various aspects of life such as gender equality and tolerance of minorities.

Interesting considering this news, also cited in the same Science Daily article:

According to a public opinion poll released by the Pew Research Center in April, 2008, some 81 percent of Americans say they believe the country is on the “wrong track.” The response is the most negative in the 25 years pollsters have asked the question.

In addition to the war in Iraq and the threat of terrorism, observers contribute high dissatisfaction to talk of potential recession, home foreclosure rates and unemployment.

“Americans’ dissatisfaction with the country’s current direction pulls down their sense of subjective well-being,” says Inglehart. “But this is partly offset by other factors. The fact that Americans live in a free and tolerant society has more impact on happiness than economic prosperity or even additional income.

“Ultimately, the most important determinant of happiness is the extent to which people have free choice in how to live their lives.”

So, happiness is directly related to our freedom? Wonder why so many people are hell bent on taking away those freedoms? Interesting thing to ponder…

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