Will democracy make you happy?

I thought about boring you with a ‘woe is me’ post on my computer trials (short story- PC fixed but laptop back to manufacturers) but instead thought I’d post a link to this article that was forwarded to me today.

Will democracy make you happy?

The question, though, is which comes first: happiness or democracy? Despite our earlier thinking, there is now growing evidence that a happy population, one where people are satisfied with their lives as a whole, is a prerequisite for democracy…

What the evidence on happiness demonstrates is that happy people are much more likely to express satisfaction with their country’s political regime, regardless of what kind that might be, than unhappy people. That’s not to say that democracy doesn’t matter. It does. All things being equal, democracy does provide a happiness boost. But all things are rarely equal.

Puts a whole new spin on the war in Iraq doesn’t it…

Filed under: Thoughts, politics , democracy, happiness, Iraq

Computer withdrawl

My computer is sick. So using some of my scholarship funds I bought a new laptop (which I needed to get for study and travel anyway). Unfortunately that started doing odd things almost immediately and so has had to go back to the shop for a few days.

I am now realising just how attached I am to computers and the Internet. I surprised myself at just how upset I got when the technician told me on Wednesday that he hadn’t found the problem with the laptop and would have to keep working on it (although it didn’t help that he was dismissive and almost rude on the phone). I think I might be in withdrawl.

I have to confess. I totally understand this today….

Filed under: life, phd , computers, PhD comics