Republicans Happier Than Democrats

If you believe the polls, Republicans are consistently happier than Democrats. In a recent Pew survey, 45% of Republicans said they were happy, compared to only 30% of Democrats—and they've been on top since 1972. So the Daily Beast decided to look at some other happiness polls, to find society’s most joyful. It found:

• Old people are much happier than young ones. According to Harris, 44% of people over 65 consider themselves happy, compared to 30% of people 25-39 and 26% of 18-to-24-year-olds.
• Hawaiians are happier than residents of any other state; West Virginians are the least happy, according to Gallup’s Well-Being Index.

• Married people are 19% happier than single people, and married moms are 14% happier than single ones—though a pollster says that latter number “is 100% financial.”
• Clergymen are happier than any other group of professionals, followed by travel agents, butlers, and architects.
• Maybe money can’t buy happiness, but the rich are 27% happier than the poor.
• Black people are happier (40%) than Hispanic people (39%) who are happier than white people (32%).
• A whopping 99% of evangelical Christians are happy…at least if you believe a poll from the evangelically oriented Barna Group. A Pew survey shows that those who attend regular religious services are happier than those who never go, 43% to 26%.

(More happiness stories.)