In Reply to: World map of happiness posted by Farmer on August 07, 2006 at 19:56:05:
The whole idea is based on the flawed premise that education + wealth + health = happiness. This overlooks far too many complex social and cultural factors necessary for human "happiness" and satisfaction.
On the list there are rich countries where inhabitants could be argued to be miserable by tradition, or the populace is dissatisfied living under very oppressive regimes.
I have talked to people in countries where there are all the signs of wealth, health and educational success, but people are quite distressed about their present and future, their poor retirement conditions, and live hand-to-mouth worrying about feeding their families. Once false move and these people are out with no decent social-welfare umbrella, nothing to fall back on in a dog-eat-dog society which has all the trappings of success to outsiders.
I have also met people living in so-called poverty areas on that list, in cities and rural areas, and they are generally happy and satisfied, and do not worry about the present economical situation they live in, nor about the future. They are not worried for their children, and have an abundance in food supplies.