We Talk Friday
(WTF)
This is a semi-regular series that I will run on Fridays to hold discussions on a current topic from the week gone. The aim is to keep them light and conversational, though some might be heavier - regardless of the content topic itself though, just have some fun engaging and discussing with whoever happens to put in the effort in the comments section below.
We Talk Friday Ep. 4: Your Country Sucks
For the eighth year in a row, Finland has again topped the list as the "happiest country in the world" - with Denmark, Iceland, Sweden, Netherlands, Costa Rica, Norway, Israel, Luxembourg and Mexico rounding out the top ten. I am not sure what the takeaway is from this list is - but while the Nordics are happy with degrading social services, while Costa Rica has crime problems, Mexico has constant drug cartel killings and averages about 100 murders a day, and well Israel... Being at war has been good for their spirits it seems!
There is nothing like a bit of death to lighten the mood.
But really, these lists are absolute nonsense, and if Finland is the happiest group of people on earth, the rest of the world is in worse shape than I thought - and I think it is in pretty bad shape. However, I will admit, Finland probably isn't the worse place to live, compared to some of the options out there. Afghanistan came last.
I guess the Taliban need to beat some more smiles out of their people.
As nonsensical as these lists are, what they do provide for some people perhaps is a reflection point to consider what actually makes a happy country. Well technically, a country is just imaginary line on a map - but what makes the people within those lines happier?
What are the top three things you need?
Go ahead...
So, what were they? Wealth, lower taxes, better roads and schools, freedom of speech, pro-life/ pro-choice, less immigrants, more police, lower crime? And while the list can go on for a long time, my point is that these are the kinds of things that people make their voting decisions on (well, not in Afghanistan - as they have a totalitarian theocracy) and decide who leads the country.
But, while some of these things might be part of a larger picture of influence for a decent life, how come people aren't expressly voting for the things that most directly influence their top three needs? It seems to me that people want their cake and eat it too - where they want things that don't add to their wellbeing, but they desire - and they want their wellbeing, even though their focus on the desirables might go against their wellbeing.
Is happiness so hard?
Yes!
Because we put conditions on our happiness, and those conditions can be very hard to meet. I will be happy when I have a good job I love, a house, luxury car, beautiful wife and kids, a boat, a holiday home... and I have to be healthy as well!
We are human - there is no such thing as unconditional circumstances in our life. Even "the unconditional love of a parent for a child" likely has some level of condition on it somewhere. I mean, there are some pretty terrible children out in the world. And worse adults who are always someone's child.
Do we set too many conditions?
Probably. But does knowing that make a functional difference in your life? Are you now going to go through your hierarchy of desires and discover which ones are just not achievable, and which ones you don't really need anyway, and which ones take too much work for the return?
What is the lowest set of conditions that you require for happiness?
How different do you think your lowest set of conditions is in comparison to the other people in your family, neighbourhood, city, or country? If that list is pretty similar, isn't that where the resources should be going? Isn't it what influences those topics that we should be voting upon?
I guess...
All countries suck.
Taraz
[ Gen1: Hive ]
Past Episodes:
Episode 3: Collapse is Inevitable
Episode 2: Show me the money
Episode 1: Strange bedfellows
The Nordic countries are widely recognized as the happiest countries. I don't know the mechanism that decides that; it's probably taken from the degree of happiness of those who live there by what those people say.
Polls have probably been taken... and I guess they didn't ask you.
I live in Romania, and we are 35th in happiness! Nobody asked me, but I would have said I was happy if they had asked me. A happiness made of enough little bits of happiness, or joy that it's not as bad as it could be...
I'm jealous of Finland for being the happiest, but I don't think it will last much longer.
I think all the unhappy people will go to Finland; thus, your country will become... unhappy.
Interesting topic for reflection and discussion. Thank you!
I have a a couple Romanian friends, and one just moved back from the UK to Romania with his girlfriend, because he was tired of all the random violence going on there. I think he is looking to start a family - and thinks Romania is better.
I like how you started your answer. I'm glad you have Romanian friends because friends can help you better understand another country. Romania is a country of contrasts; I don't like many things, but there are also many things I like. Millions have gone west to work, and many are coming back now. I'm glad about your friend's decision; I think he's making a good choice, although...
I'm beginning to like what I see on the street less and less. People are less educated and lack empathy for others. I'm old, from another generation, and maybe it's the same everywhere in the world. Older generations don't understand the new generations. The fact is that I would hate to live in a future that I don't get to see anymore. I hope our children, especially our grandchildren, will adapt to the new times.
I also saw the list today, Finland being on the top, and then I remembered the negative sides of Finland you mentioned here. Perhaps, the Finland they show us is different :)
We have a proverb for such cases;
The grass is greener on the other side
Maybe once the world is more at war, we will remember the green grass that used to be where the missle craters now are.
Finland is better than many places. Despite the weather.
Well, it's all a question of perspective. But there are things that do contribute to people's happiness. And the real fact is that the Finns always take the lead in this group.
In my opinion, I actually like living in my country - Portugal - although I confess I'd like it better if average salaries were a bit more in line with the rents, for example. With regard to violent crime, we are among the countries with the lowest rates in Europe.
If I were to list the three main factors for happiness in living in Portugal, I'd venture a guess:
-Safety
-Health (on this point in particular, the conditions of public services have been deteriorating)
In my case, I would add that in order to move up a few notches in the ranking, we should have better justice, with an emphasis on corruption offences.
What do you think lowers it? Does it have to do with the decriminalisation of drugs?
All I need from government is less of it breathing down my neck. I'm fine with handling that hierarchy of needs at my own risk.
Do you feel the breath daily? I always find it interesting in regards to the US, as the people both talk about it being the land of the free and how it has free speech - but I don't see much evidence of it.
Well, if you don't think unapproved thoughts and just go with the flow, doing as you're told, I'm sure you can feel free. But even before COVID, I was the sort to ask, "why," and it creates friction a free society shouldn't produce. And believe me, issues like police abuse and courtroom corruption predate the George Floyd case.
I often feel that despite what many think, Europe is pretty free in terms of the ability to think and express opinion. Though, I reckon it is changing as the US mentality blankets everything.
I think it always depends on personal experience. I grew up in "multicultural" Australia - as the only coloured family in a small town. I know what police abuse is - and it was at a much lower level than for instance in the ghettos of LA.
That definitely is pretty shocking to see Mexico so high on the list. I mean, I totally appreciate that they live a different lifestyle down there with a lot of their focus on some of the more important things like family, but I agree with you on the cartel stuff. That's definitely a bad look and even if it only impacts 10% of the country, it still seems like enough to keep them out of the top 10.
This is what I mean - and Israel too - they are at war? Are people really that happy there being in a war? It seems very strange.
Apparently there was a really good movie out about that, it won some awards or something, but a lot of theaters wouldn't play it.
I imagine that lithuanians would be much happier if we lived further away from war. Also people in general would be happier if they would keep more dogs.
As long as they are nice dogs - I am tired of people buying those fighting dogs and thinking they are friendly.
Do you think Finland is not very friendly to immigrants like you?Dear @tarazkp !
Depends what it is compared to. Maybe friendlier than S.K?
😆
Hmmm Finland. Sure, they got saunas and all, but have they ever tried standing in a 2 hour queue just to get basic government services? Now that’s character building happiness lol
I am guessing Finland and other Nordic countries are coming out as the happiest nations on earth as standards of living are fairly high, you have great social net and vacation time.
USA has a lot more competitive pressures and financial stress due to lack of a social safety net and a workaholic culture where there is pressure to show up at work even if you are exceeding your vacation carryover limit for the year and effectively not even taking the two weeks a year you are allowed to take...