Geography or State of Mind?

Last week Economists Andrew J. Oswald of the University of Warwick in England and Stephen Wu of Hamilton College in Clinton, N.Y., reported "happiness rankings" across the United States. The top states in terms of happiness included Louisiana, Hawaii, Florida, Tennessee and Arizona. This study was widely reported by the news agencies who tried to pass it off as having something to do with the weather. However, I see something more fundamental at work here. Red or conservative states dominate the top half of the list, whereas unhappy States tend to be Blue (no pun intended). This is certainly consistent with my years of observation and experiences living in several different States. What the study does shows is 1.) Liberals are miserable people (who unfortunately try to spread their unhappiness nationally), while conservatives tend to take responsibility for their own happiness; and 2.) Even liberals have a hard time being miserable in Hawaii.

Happiness rankings

1. Louisiana Red

2. Hawaii Blue

3. Florida Red

4. Tennessee Red

5. Arizona Red

6. South Carolina Red

7. Mississippi Red

8. Montana Red

9. Alabama Red

10. Maine Blue

11. Wyoming Red

12. Alaska Red

13. North Carolina Red

14. South Dakota Red

15. Texas Red

16. Idaho Red

17. Vermont Blue

18. Arkansas Red

19. Georgia Red

20. Utah Red

21. Oklahoma Red

22. Delaware Blue

23. Colorado Purple

24. New Mexico Purple

25. North Dakota Red

26. Minnesota Blue

27. Virginia Red

28. New Hampshire Blue

29. Wisconsin Blue

30. Oregon Blue

31. Iowa Blue

32. Kansas Red

33. Nebraska Red

34. West Virginia Red

35. Kentucky Red

36. Washington Blue

37. Washington, D.C. Blue

38. Missouri Purple

39. Nevada Red

40. Maryland Blue

41. Pennsylvania Blue

42. Rhode Island Blue

43. Ohio Red

44. Massachusetts Blue

45. Illinois Blue

46. California Blue

47. New Jersey Blue

48. Indiana Red

49. Michigan Blue

50. Connecticut Blue

51. New York Blue

Source: The Associated Press