Well, at least the good Lord got part of the equation right.
People DO compare themselves to others. Among the things he
missed, however, is that we also compare ourselves to others
generationally. If asked, I'd wager a month's salary that most
people would not like to actually go back to live in the 1950s
with no possibility of returning to "good ol' 2003" (yeah, I
know, YOU are one of the exceptions, but I'm talking about most
people. And, yes, as a matter of fact, I have talked to most of
the world's people, and they told me just this. You must have
been in the head when I tried to contact you.)

If asked if they'd rather have their kids face polio and smallpox
in the 1940s or AIDS now, most parents would say AIDS now.

If asked if they'd rather have the oh so peaceful life of the
1920s or indoor plumbing, most would take indoor plumbing.

And so on...

Another thing the good Lord missed is that happiness doesn't
exist in a vacuum. If I have kept up with the Joneses but I
can't get my kid the dental care he needs because I've been
overtaxed and the Government has been inefficient (that never
happens), well, when my kid needs dental care, my happiness will
pretty much tank. The context here, of course, is being in a
general state of "having enough" and "having the resources you
need" when things go bad... because they do.

Yet another thing the good Lord missed is that one of the things
that makes people supremely happy is the productive pursuit of
and the realization of one's own projects and ambitions.
Overtaxing kills ambition and makes for a stupid lethargic
people.

I would hazzard a guess that the good Lord, being a Lord, doesn't
have to pay much in income taxes. He's got his. Probably trying
hard to keep others from keeping up with him. That would make
him unhappy, you see.

Cheers.

Bal


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