The pursuit of happiness

An interesting little read from the New York Times:

Scholars on both the left and right have studied this question extensively, and have reached a consensus that it is conservatives who possess the happiness edge. Many data sets show this...  This pattern has persisted for decades. The question isn’t whether this is true, but why. ...
Whether religion and marriage should make people happy is a question you have to answer for yourself. But consider this: Fifty-two percent of married, religious, politically conservative people (with kids) are very happy — versus only 14 percent of single, secular, liberal people without kids. 

Fascinating -- people who've chosen to allow significant others into their lives: God, spouses, kids, etc, with all that entails regarding compromise and self-sacrifice, tend to be happier than those who are trying to go it their own way.  Who'da thunk?

But this is the real kicker for me:

Liberals are more likely to see people as victims of circumstance and oppression, and doubt whether individuals can climb without governmental help. 

Bingo.  Living life as a victim of circumstance -- or at least believing you're surrounded by such -- is no recipe for happiness.  Ironic, isn't it, that so many who resist faith because of its demand of dependence upon God merely substitute a dependence on the State to attempt to solve the observable ills around us.  It's a faith that doesn't call itself such -- and it's utterly unsatisfying in the end.