http://jennackerman.wordpress.com/2008/01/18/the-happiest-place-on-earth/ Documentary Photography, Multimedia and Public Perception Thu, 21 Aug 2008 07:07:38 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=MU http://jennackerman.wordpress.com/2008/01/18/the-happiest-place-on-earth/#comment-1261 Jim Korpi Wed, 23 Jan 2008 02:10:58 +0000 http://jennackerman.wordpress.com/2008/01/18/the-happiest-place-on-earth/#comment-1261 Jenn, You bring up a great point here that I'm sure not a lot of people in the Ol' US of A are aware of. Everyone here thinks we live in the "Greatest Country on Earth," and there may be a lot of great things going for the place, like a seemingly endless amount of resources (notice seemingly), "freedom", and "security," But what we don't step back to think about is the cut-throat nature of a capitalist society that never relaxes, has very little respect for those born less "equal," and stomps all over the rest of the world in the name of cheap plastic things that break and need to be thrown away. Western Europeans, don't forget all the other Scandinavian countries, have been rated some of the happiest people on the planet, not to mention the richest. There are a number of reasons, maybe some of which you mentioned, but one can't throw out the idea that money brings happiness. Money doesn't always have to play the role it does in our society. Besides, in it's simplest form it's a way to barter. BUT, It can be more evenly distributed, which brings me to the Scandinavians... They're rich, but they're socialist. Their money is well distributed. Their social welfare system is one the US could learn a lot from. The problem is the US doesn't want to learn from Europe. We want to think that we're beyond them. But we're way behind. The Dutch (Netherlands) have a similar saying as the Danes, "He who sticks his head above the grass gets it cut off." In the USA this notion is obscene. He who sticks his head above the grass, in our eyes, sees further and has and advantage over everyone else. But the Dutch, the Danes and other more socially sensitive societies believe that what we do as individuals often affects others, both locally and globally, so we need to respect this and respect each other. It's beautiful what the man said about winter. I've always believed this myself. Coming from New England I've learned to appreciate the seasons and what they bring with them. You never adjust to the cold. People always say, "You're from New England, you should be used to this." But Spring and Summer melt away the memories of the brisk December air and we adjust to a different climate. It's the attitude you acquire in the process The world sees something in the horizon for the US economy. It will be a long, hard and cold recession if they are right. We will have to adjust and learn to live more conservatively. Maybe then we will realize the beauty of what we had and how much better we can be. Hopefully, Jim Jenn,
You bring up a great point here that I’m sure not a lot of people in the Ol’ US of A are aware of. Everyone here thinks we live in the “Greatest Country on Earth,” and there may be a lot of great things going for the place, like a seemingly endless amount of resources (notice seemingly), “freedom”, and “security,” But what we don’t step back to think about is the cut-throat nature of a capitalist society that never relaxes, has very little respect for those born less “equal,” and stomps all over the rest of the world in the name of cheap plastic things that break and need to be thrown away.
Western Europeans, don’t forget all the other Scandinavian countries, have been rated some of the happiest people on the planet, not to mention the richest. There are a number of reasons, maybe some of which you mentioned, but one can’t throw out the idea that money brings happiness.
Money doesn’t always have to play the role it does in our society. Besides, in it’s simplest form it’s a way to barter. BUT, It can be more evenly distributed, which brings me to the Scandinavians… They’re rich, but they’re socialist. Their money is well distributed. Their social welfare system is one the US could learn a lot from. The problem is the US doesn’t want to learn from Europe. We want to think that we’re beyond them. But we’re way behind.
The Dutch (Netherlands) have a similar saying as the Danes, “He who sticks his head above the grass gets it cut off.” In the USA this notion is obscene. He who sticks his head above the grass, in our eyes, sees further and has and advantage over everyone else. But the Dutch, the Danes and other more socially sensitive societies believe that what we do as individuals often affects others, both locally and globally, so we need to respect this and respect each other.
It’s beautiful what the man said about winter. I’ve always believed this myself. Coming from New England I’ve learned to appreciate the seasons and what they bring with them. You never adjust to the cold. People always say, “You’re from New England, you should be used to this.” But Spring and Summer melt away the memories of the brisk December air and we adjust to a different climate. It’s the attitude you acquire in the process
The world sees something in the horizon for the US economy. It will be a long, hard and cold recession if they are right. We will have to adjust and learn to live more conservatively. Maybe then we will realize the beauty of what we had and how much better we can be.
Hopefully,
Jim

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