The first UN World Happiness Report just came out. How did Israel and Palestine fair?
If you’re happy and you know it, rule more lands!
If you’re happy and you know it, rule more lands!
If you’re happy and you know it,
then a UN poll will show it,
If you’re happy and you know it, rule more lands!
The UN published a report last week, called the ‘World Happiness Report”. Scandinavians came in first (boring…).
But how did the two main protagonists in our little theater fair?
Israel (fabulous in the role of “Occupier”) came in at a surprising 14th place. For a country of professional complainers, this fact is not only astounding – it puts the whole survey’s credibility into question.
The Palestinian Authority (in an emotional, unforgettable role as “the Occupied”) came in at 119. Out of 155 countries surveyed.
“While basic living standards are essential for happiness, after the baseline has been met happiness varies more with the quality of human relationship than with income,” the report read. “Policy goals should include high employment and high-quality work; a strong community with high levels of trust and respect, which government can influence through inclusive participatory policies; improved physical and mental health; support of family life; and a decent education for all.”
Oh, and a few less checkpoints. Just a tad.
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Rafael
The Palestinians actually come out in last at the Average Negative Affect measure (Figure 2.12).
caden
So people in Israel aren’t miserable. That’s not a terrible thing.
Philos
I don’t believe this stats on Israel. We are brainwashed from an early age to lie about the conditions of our lives here to gentiles and diaspora Jews. As soon as an Israeli is asked, “How is your country?” by some survey person they answer reflexively, “It’s great. I’m happy.”
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Later they complain to their friend’s that there are no opportunities, their cousin in Boston is making more money as a Ph.D. student than they are as a high-tech employee, and they’re uncomfortable with the idea of raising their hypothetical children in a land of oppressed Arabs, Arsim and Haradeim.
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If we’re so damn happy then why is everyone so miserable?
caden
Having been a Jew my entire life. And a lot of association with Israelis across the spectrum. I can safely say one thing. No one, I mean no one, is shy about complaining about everything and anything.
Kolumn9
Philos, this is why I avoid Tel Aviv…
sarah grant
Find confort in the fact that you make my life hell. but still GOD IS GREAT
Leen
Well, it’s ironic that the ‘supposably vulnerable poor Israel whose neighbours despise them and want to wipe them off the face of the earth, and the big bad Hamas constantly threatening them’ ranks #14… while the occupied ranks at #119. Now that is the true difference and inequality of this conflict.
Piotr Berman
I do not understand why Israeli should not be even more happy. Perhaps the poll was using a different methodology than standard Israeli polls, i.e. non-Jews were included in the survey.
But what should make Israeli Jews unhappy?
1. They are better Jews. French in France or Americans in USA are just ordinary French or Americans, but Jews in Israel are better than other Jews. At least this is what aliya means AFAIK.
2. They mold the Jewish destiny. Part of that is to make Palestinians unhappy, so the index 199 for the territories should automatically be a considerable source of satisfaction about a job well done.
Quite seriously, comparative welfare is more important for happiness than absolute. One way to get good comparative welfare is to have a relatively egalitarian society, like in Scandinavia. The second method is to have a good view at comparison group that lives much worse. Especially if in your belief system they should live worse, say, because they are enemies.
Danny
@Ami, I have a theory about Israelis purportedly being such a happy bunch. In my opinion, Israelis are miserable, but don’t know it. In spite of exorbitant living costs and taxes, shoddy government services, army reserve duty (only for seculars, of course), government corruption and Israel’s deteriorating dipolamtic standing, Israelis are still apparently ‘happy’. How come?
.
I think the word ‘happy’ is not correct to describe Israelis’ mindset. When Israelis look at their lot in life, they recognize that it largely sucks. However, at least there will never be another holocaust! At least we will never be put in gas chambers again. At least we have an air force and we get to kick the living shit out of anybody who our government says is the new Hitlers. At least we can go to sleep at night with the realization that, while life in Israel is harder and more complex than in any other western country, we get to make mangals and watch Big Brother on TV. At least we can watch the Eurovision contest and pretend that we live in Europe and not in the Middle East.
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Israelis are collectively drugged by their government into believing life is hunky dory. Let me tell you, as an ex-Israeli now living in North America, Israelis just don’t realize how miserable they should be.
Arnon Schwanzinger
So if one were to take an actual happiness poll of ALL people(s) in Israel, Israel would come out at number 67. Out of 154 countries.
As Bibi likes to say “Benikuy” – deducting the Arabs, Israelis are quite happy.
That’s almost as boring as Scandinavians coming in first.