Homestead mailing list

[Gene GeRue <genegerue AT ruralize.com>]

On Jan 6, 2009, at 10:40 AM, bobf wrote:

> Mwerckle committing siuicde is no different that a coal miner in  
> southern Arizona or in Appalacia killing himself over gambling debts  
> or job loss.
> Expect to see more suicides..........................
>
> ----------------------------------------------------------------------


Bob, this is far different. The point is that more money does not  
equate to more happiness. With all Merckle's money, he could not buy  
happiness. Furthermore, his perception of happiness was having lots of  
money. But worst, apparently his personal image was that only if he  
kept making lots of money was he then worthy of life.

In my recent review of The Geography of Bliss: One Grump's Search for  
the Happiest Places in the World, by Eric Weiner, I wrote:
We learn that money wealth gives but a small edge. America is the  
richest country the world has ever known, yet our self-help  
bookshelves sag. As poet-laureate, Charles Simic, noted in a recent  
interview: "It's an industry. It's really frightening. People need to  
read a book on how to be happy? It's completely an American thing."