What Are We So Unhappy About?

A recent poll conducted by the Princeton Survey Research Associates International on June 18-19, 2008 indicated that 80 percent of those surveyed were disatisfied with "the way things are going in the United States at this time."

Ipsos Public Affairs found that 76 percent think the country is headed in the wrong direction.

Gallup found that 84 percent were disatisfied with the way things are going. NBC News/Wall Street Journal found that 71 percent thought the United States is on the wrong track.

I could site more polls, but they all show the same thing. You can find more on this at PollingReport.com.

The reason I bring this up is because today I received an unsolicited e-mail that quotes Jay Leno as answering the question, why are we so unhappy? I did some research and found that there are also attempts to attribute this to David Letterman.

Well, the truth is that the following passage (I quote parts of it) was originally written by Craig R. Smith in November 2006 for World Net Daily. (You just can't believe something just because it's in an e-mail.)

What are we so unhappy about?

Is it that we have electricity and running water 24 hours a day, 7 days a week? Is our unhappiness the result of having air conditioning in the summer and heating in the winter? Could it be that 95.4 percent of these unhappy folks have a job? Maybe it is the ability to walk into a grocery store at any time and see more food in moments than Darfur has seen in the last year?

Maybe it is the ability to drive from the Pacific Ocean to the Atlantic Ocean without having to present identification papers as we move through each state? Or possibly the hundreds of clean and safe motels we would find along the way that can provide temporary shelter? I guess having thousands of restaurants with varying cuisine from around the world is just not good enough. Or could it be that when we wreck our car, emergency workers show up and provide services to help all involved. Whether you are rich or poor they treat your wounds and even, if necessary, send a helicopter to take you to the hospital.

Perhaps you are one of the 70 percent of Americans who own a home, you may be upset with knowing that in the unfortunate case of having a fire, a group of trained firefighters will appear in moments and use top notch equipment to extinguish the flames thus saving you, your family and your belongings. Or if, while at home watching one of your many flat screen TVs, a burglar or prowler intrudes; an officer equipped with a gun and a bullet-proof vest will come to defend you and your family against attack or loss. This all in the backdrop of a neighborhood free of bombs or militias raping and pillaging the residents. Neighborhoods where 90 percent of teenagers own cell phones and computers.

How about the complete religious, social and political freedoms we enjoy that are the envy of everyone in the world? Maybe that is what has 67 percent of you folks unhappy.

Fact is, we are the largest group of ungrateful, spoiled brats the world has ever seen. No wonder the world loves the U.S. yet has a great disdain for its citizens. They see us for what we are. The most blessed people in the world who do nothing but complain about what we don't have and what we hate about the country instead of thanking the good Lord we live here.

Read the rest of it here.