Comments on: More Money Doesn’t Hurt Happiness

By: Chris

Chris — Tue, 16 Sep 2008 20:36:37 +0000

David Leonhardt » I think that while there is a tendency for us to normalize on luxury — and not even realize any more, the progress from poverty to wealth and then to wild success. I am not talking about that, I am talking about your first step: “If you have to struggle with three buses and two transfers each day, twice a day to commute to and from work, you feel the hardship.” I feel that there are too many people in this grip of terrible desperation. Even people with insurance who don’t have enough coverage, I consider in this place and this space. People like to stovepipe all the way into the space of comparing our working poor to the fish known as an Oscar… it tends to always grow to the size of its tank not matter what. People are not Oscars. There are quite a few people with homes, cars, school payments, and even second homes who are in this level of duress and are in the grip, so I am willing to even expand this to what I said in my poll, Poll: How Much Do You Need to Live Comfortably? — and I think that “comfortably” is literally whomever takes the poll’s call. Thanks for the passionate and thoughtful reply.

By: Chris

Chris — Tue, 16 Sep 2008 20:29:58 +0000

Pam » No, it is not too Pollyanna. However, it is hard to even think about getting into a nice freestyle swim, enjoying the warm water, the gorgeous sun, and the coral and fish if you’re drowning and never even learned how to swim. Security allows people to have the calm to not always be “in the Grip” as OD/Myers-Briggs gurus (sometimes referred to as being in the grip of the inferior function).

By: David Leonhardt

David Leonhardt — Tue, 16 Sep 2008 14:55:49 +0000

I absolutely agree with what is quoted about money at different ends of the income spectrum. In fact, I had to read it carefully to determine that it was not taken from my own book! I like to use this analogy. If you have to struggle with three buses and two transfers each day, twice a day to commute to and from work, you feel the hardship. If you earn enough to buy yourself a puddle-jumper, now you can drive direct and bypass most of the misery. No waiting in the rain. No chasing after missed buses. Lifespan increased by an-hour-per-day (that’s more than even vitamins can do!).

Now, take that same person, five years later with a much greater increase in income hopping into a brand new SUV. At first, it’s pure joy, the sensation of something new. And although it is more comfortable, the contrast is small and it is not making life that much easier, not adding more time to one’s life, etc. You quickly get used to it and take it for granted.

David Leonhardt

By: Michelle

Michelle — Tue, 16 Sep 2008 05:55:22 +0000

If happiness is serenity then I believe that’s achieved when one is able to be 100% present, regarless of the circumstances. Money makes that tough. There are too many external necessities riding on it.

By: Pam

Pam — Tue, 16 Sep 2008 02:51:46 +0000

Fair enough, Chris, if happiness = security, or the absence of unhappiness.

For me, that is just ‘even’. For me, security does not, necessarily, mean happiness.

If radiating joy and experiencing bliss = happiness, then I would need more than insurance. And vacations need not cost money.

Too Pollyanna?

By: Chris

Chris — Mon, 15 Sep 2008 18:04:05 +0000

Stevie » OK, here’s my question… how much money is sufficient in the United States to “live comfortably?”

By: Chris

Chris — Mon, 15 Sep 2008 17:39:53 +0000

Pam » Some people think that the more a family or community crabs and complains, the healthier the family or community. Pissing and moaning generally requires a certain level of security.

By: Pam

Pam — Mon, 15 Sep 2008 17:36:18 +0000

Yea, maybe, Chris.

Money can relieve some of the stress of not having those personal safety measures and moments of relaxation, but that still might not make you happy.

Lots of really crabby people take vacations.

By: Stevie

Stevie — Mon, 15 Sep 2008 17:13:20 +0000

I do so agree and part of what is at issue in this election are several of these issues. In Europe– everyone has a vacation. In the US, it’s a strictly capitalistic, laissez-faire society (I love Ayn Rand but poverty, hunger and illness due to substandard *everything* isn’t in my vocabularly.)

I agree that if you have sufficent $$$ here in the US, you have live comfortably. Will it buy you a Louis Vuitton bag? Hell no, but that’s not the standard of living we are talking about.

Nice post Chris. I will have something for you to chew on next week

By: Saul Wainwright

Saul Wainwright — Mon, 15 Sep 2008 17:12:14 +0000

Chris I have to agree with you here 100%. Money certainly buys additional layers of comfort and ease in America – which makes one more relaxed and therefore happier. But – the truth is happiness is not in the money it is in a state of mind. Which in Berlin may be easier to attain.