Thread: America is richest country in the world-but definitively not the happiest-Statistics

The US is not the richest country if you measure in GDP per capita. Also most of the money in the US is owned by only a few very rich people. That might have something to do with it.

Originally Posted by khh

The US is not the richest country if you measure in GDP per capita. Also most of the money in the US is owned by only a few very rich people. That might have something to do with it.

There are lots of different measures of wealth, GDP per capita is just one. But in a majority of the measures, the USA is the richest.

Edit: And I believe that answer is part of it, but not all of it. Even though the rich hold most of the wealth, the standard of living in the US is still extremely high. The rich, no matter in what country, will always hold most of the wealth. So the question is why with such a high standard of living and so much money and power, are we much lower down than we "should be" (according to capitalistic thought)

Originally Posted by Atras

There are lots of different measures of wealth, GDP per capita is just one. But in a majority of the measures, the USA is the richest.

GDP per capita is patently the relevant one.

Ok theres no need to get into the ditchotomy's between the different indicators of wealth. Overall the general consensus is that the US is the richest country in the world. The question was why if it is the richest is it it low in happiness comparatively.

I'm not dichotomising anything, I'm using the correct measure. Size of the country is irrelevant.

The US's GDP per capita is 9th. That's not so different from 12th or 13th on the happiness scale. So what's your point?

Yea it doesn't take a rocket scientist to understand that American's average income is arguably the highest in the world. No nation in history has ever collected as much wealth and power as the U.S. If the poverty line is a mere $20,000 a year, it's still a lot more than what most people could dream of making in other countries. As far as happiness in this country is probably because money actually does buy happiness and only roughly 7% of the American population can afford that kind of bliss. (American's dream BIG extremely BIG) and those big dreams cost some big money, millions upon millions of dollars kind of money. As in the infamous words of the comedian Daniel Tosh. "have you ever seen an unhappy person on a waverunner?, these people are smiling when they hit the pier."

Materialism does not necessarily equal happiness?

Learn to love what you have, instead of wanting what you do not?

EDIT: GDP increases during hurricanes, earthquakes, oil spills, etc. People spend money (purchase supplies) to repair.

GDP is not a measure of wealth, it's a measure of how much wealth is transferred through goods and services consumption. Debt is not wealth.

GDP per capita is just ONE MEASURE. There are more measures and on most of them the USA is the richest. And its just general knowledge that the USA is the richest, I don't need to go into detail why. PLEASE dreamviews, for once can you just answer a question instead of claiming that the question was asked wrong or the poll is bad or whatever! If you don't agree with the question then dont answer it.

Originally Posted by Ne-yo

Yea it doesn't take a rocket scientist to understand that American's average income is arguably the highest in the world. No nation in history has ever collected as much wealth and power as the U.S. If the poverty line is a mere $20,000 a year, it's still a lot more than what most people could dream of making in other countries. As far as happiness in this country is probably because money actually does buy happiness and only roughly 7% of the American population can afford that kind of bliss. (American's dream BIG extremely BIG) and those big dreams cost some big money, millions upon millions of dollars kind of money. As in the infamous words of the comedian Daniel Tosh. "have you ever seen an unhappy person on a waverunner?, these people are smiling when they hit the pier."

Actually money doesn't buy hapiness, thats why we are much lower on the hapiness scale than we should be. IMO.

Realization that a large percentage of the U.S.'s wealth is largely artificial might have something to do with it.

Originally Posted by BLUELINE976

Realization that a large percentage of the U.S.'s wealth is largely artificial might have something to do with it.

No better feeling than having hundreds of thousands of dollars worth of debt, a house you can't afford, and 5 credit cards that all rack up interest every month because you can't make enough money to satisfy your lust for... more stuff. Now THAT'S happiness.

Even better when your central bank prints out 16 trillion dollars in a 4 year period to pay off failing banks... decreasing the value of every dollar you have!

Originally Posted by Atras

PLEASE dreamviews, for once can you just answer a question instead of claiming that the question was asked wrong or the poll is bad or whatever! If you don't agree with the question then dont answer it.

Why are you so hostile to learning and discussion?

Your original post is asking people to explain an incorrect statement. How on Earth is it not relevant to the thread to point this out? You're telling me you'd rather you and everybody else remained ignorant and wasted time on totally futile speculation?

Grow up and learn how to be rational. Nobody should ever be hostile to learning they were mistaken, or hearing a dissenting voice for the sole reason that it is one. And never in a million years should you presume you have the prerogative to tell somebody to shut up and go away for this.

I am saying that GDP is only one measure of wealth but most measures of wealth indicate the us is the richest. That is a fact, not an incorrect statement. Why I am hostile is because I see all the time on dv people doing nothing but debating things that arent even what the thread asked. I am trying to discuss why the USA is unhappy if it is the richest, and your coming here and arguing that it's not the richest, therefore my thread is incorrect and invalid. Look at the facts, whether or not it is the richest is not the topic of this thread. And the facts say that it is. I am open to different opinions when they're on topic, not telling me that my thread is wrong.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of...y_GDP_(nominal)

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of...es_by_GDP_(PPP)

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of...PPP)_estimates

http://www.aneki.com/richest.html

http://www.worldsrichestcountries.com/

Look at the facts. And honestly my initial statement was a generallity. IN general, the US is the richest country in the world. I don't care if one measure says that it's not. That's not the point of the thread. I don't mean to be hostile or to discourage "rational thought" or opposition to my opinions. I just wish people would actually answer my question. IF I said something completely false that would be one thing, but I didn't.

What you described initially is not a bad summary of the attitude about life held by mainstream thought in the US, and it is precisely this that sucks the life out of people. Think of the last scene from that movie Accepted.

Who are you responding to?

Originally Posted by Atras

Actually money doesn't buy hapiness, thats why we are much lower on the hapiness scale than we should be. IMO.

Let me sum this up because I figured people would catch the just of what I was conveying here. The lives of individuals surely does have it's ups and downs. Let's call ups happiness and downs sadness. One must undergo learning to tread so that the amplification is as abate as utterly possible (which cannot be zero) and one way of achieving this is not to run after anything (this in no way implies one not to perform the intricate tasks required or to pursue or full-fill ones goals to achieve happiness). My point is essentially this, if money runs after you then there is a good chance you can derive some time bound happiness out of it. It doesn't always have to be material but let's be honest, no one buys a Lamborghini filled with emotions of sadness when they close that deal. However, if you run after money (or any other desire) then there is very good chance you may miss the boat entirely. Money buys happiness it doesn't have to be long term but any one of you would be very happy if lots of it fell into your laps right now.

Originally Posted by Atras

I am saying that GDP is only one measure of wealth but most measures of wealth indicate the us is the richest. That is a fact, not an incorrect statement. The facts say that it is.

Well, could you provide some other measures of wealth?

Originally Posted by Atras

Why I am hostile is because I see all the time on dv people doing nothing but debating things that arent even what the thread asked. I am trying to discuss why the USA is unhappy if it is the richest, and your coming here and arguing that it's not the richest, therefore my thread is incorrect and invalid.

I feel like I'm taking crazy pills. Does nobody else find this ridiculous?

If I made a thread for discussing the implications of England's recent nuking of Jamaica, and told everybody who suggested I might have made a mistake in my research to fuck off, you think that'd be pretty cool?

Originally Posted by Ne-yo

Let me sum this up because I figured people would catch the just of what I was conveying here. The lives of individuals surely does have it's ups and downs. Let's call ups happiness and downs sadness. One must undergo learning to tread so that the amplification is as abate as utterly possible (which cannot be zero) and one way of achieving this is not to run after anything (this in no way implies one not to perform the intricate tasks required or to pursue or full-fill ones goals to achieve happiness). My point is essentially this, if money runs after you then there is a good chance you can derive some time bound happiness out of it. It doesn't always have to be material but let's be honest, no one buys a Lamborghini filled with emotions of sadness when they close that deal. However, if you run after money (or any other desire) then there is very good chance you may miss the boat entirely. Money buys happiness it doesn't have to be long term but any one of you would be very happy if lots of it fell into your laps right now.

Yeah I do agree that money doesn't mean unhapiness, but IMO it doesnt guarantee hapiness. There are plenty of unhappy rich people. And thank you for actually answering my question

Originally Posted by Atras

I am saying that GDP is only one measure of wealth but most measures of wealth indicate the us is the richest. That is a fact, not an incorrect statement. Why I am hostile is because I see all the time on dv people doing nothing but debating things that arent even what the thread asked. I am trying to discuss why the USA is unhappy if it is the richest, and your coming here and arguing that it's not the richest, therefore my thread is incorrect and invalid. Look at the facts, whether or not it is the richest is not the topic of this thread. And the facts say that it is. I am open to different opinions when they're on topic, not telling me that my thread is wrong.

No one is claiming that it isn't just one measure of wealth. What everyone is saying is that it is the most relevant, unless you aren't asking why the individuals in America aren't happy but rather America the country is unhappy. The latter makes no sense at all so most people assume you're asking why the individuals are not happy, thus making the GDP per capita the most relevant measure of wealth. Why would the fact that America as a whole is rich make somebody happy if they themselves are not rich? Common sense isn't all that bad, give it a try.

Originally Posted by Xei

Well, could you provide some other measures of wealth?


I feel like I'm taking crazy pills. Does nobody else find this ridiculous?

If I made a thread for discussing the implications of England's recent nuking of Jamaica, and told everybody who suggested I might have made a mistake in my research to fuck off, you think that'd be pretty cool?

Really? Did you really just use that example. It is obvious that england never nuked jamaica. That is a complete fabrication. It is not a complete fabrication that the us is the richest country in the world. Not at all. Some people may disagree whether it is number 1 or number 2 or even number 7. Its irrelevant. The fact is that the US is still suprisingly low on the hapiness index and I am asking why is that. And looka above, I just provided other indicators in my previous post.

Originally Posted by snoop

No one is claiming that it isn't just one measure of wealth. What everyone is saying is that it is the most relevant, unless you aren't asking why the individuals in America aren't happy but rather America the country is unhappy. The latter makes no sense at all so most people assume you're asking why the individuals are not happy, thus making the GDP per capita the most relevant measure of wealth. Why would the fact that America as a whole is rich make somebody happy if they themselves are not rich? Common sense isn't all that bad, give it a try.

That's not even what I was saying.

I am happy to say that I am above average as of today with the thing that I see as the thing that is worse for the happiness, I got an extra week of vacation time The US Worker works much more hours in a year than most other countries, i think that's a big factor

Originally Posted by Atras

Really? Did you really just use that example. It is obvious that england never nuked jamaica. That is a complete fabrication. It is not a complete fabrication that the us is the richest country in the world. Not at all. Some people may disagree whether it is number 1 or number 2 or even number 7. Its irrelevant. The fact is that the US is still suprisingly low on the hapiness index and I am asking why is that. And looka above, I just provided other indicators in my previous post.

He never claimed it wasn't a fabrication? And if you look at the GDP per capita, it may shed some light on why people aren't happy.

Originally Posted by Atras

That's not even what I was saying.

What exactly were you saying? You keep saying that America is the richest, but when someone mentions that the measure of wealth per person indicates that we are not the richest (meaning almost no one but a few people in America are rich), you said that they are wrong and America is the richest. So if individual Americans are not the richest, you must be talking about the nation as a whole. It makes no sense to ask why not rich people would be not happy even if the nation as a whole is rich and to also claim that money cannot buy happiness (while also implying that more money = less happiness, with this fact that America is richest as your evidence). It makes a lot of sense to ask why not rich people would not be happy if they, as individuals, are not rich, however. It isn't that hard of a concept to understand.