We hold these truths to be self-evident, that all men are created equal, that they are endowed by their Creator with certain unalienable Rights, that among these are Life, Liberty and the pursuit of Happiness.
Americans are happy...
More than 8 in 10 Americans say they are satisfied with their personal lives at this time, including a solid majority who say they are "very satisfied."
...and I am the happiest of all.
Republicans, married adults, those residing in higher income households, parents of young children, those attending church weekly, and whites are most likely to say they are satisfied and happy at this time.
The percentage of Americans who say they are somewhat or very satisfied with their lives has been relatively stable over the last 30 years of polling, varying between 73% (July 1979) and 88% (December 2004), and very stable since exiting the recession of the early 1990s.
Republicans (90%) are more satisfied than Democrats (82%, government better close the gap) and Independents (81%, determined not to be too happy or too unhappy).
Conventional wisdom is wrong again: money can buy happiness. Households with $75,000+ in annual income are more satisfied (96%, quite happy) than those with $30,000-$75,000 (84%) or <$30,000 (72%).
Married types are more satisfied (88% to 78%) and happier (95% to 91%) than unmarrieds.
Whitey enjoys the biggest variance. 85% of whites are satisfied with their personal lives compared to 70% of blacks.
Of course, one might argue, as Abe Lincoln said, that "people are about as happy as they make up their minds to be." But easy for him to say, he was a white, married, financially secure churchgoer.
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