Updated 4 months ago
From last year, I had missed it.
This is terrible news right now for the opposition to Trump in 2025!
I spent a good while trying to debunk it, but was unsuccessful. Unproven so far if this applies only to Finland, but also other Western countries.
It’s a comprehensive Finnish academic study that offers a window into reality. While a good dose of general, moderate progressivism has made our lives better, think no child labor, a 40 hour work week (OK, that’s gone), women voting, safe food and air, there’s a lesson here: identity politics can be taken way, way too far. Toting a little scorecard of cancelled celebs du jour (Chappelle, Rowling) is not a recipe for well-being. Everyone is shit in some way.
It makes sense. In no way are you gonna be happy if you peg your happiness on external social justice and equality, a goal that will never ever be achieved. The polar opposite of Stoicism. Don’t sweat things out of your control! I’m an atheist, but all this goes back to that old saying: God grant me the courage to change what I can.
It dovetails with religious people being happier. Ignorance is bliss. The delusion that LSD gives you, cosmic union, kinda replicates that! Which may explain psychedelic therapy!
I would personally add that extremism in any form is not conducive to happiness – because by pushing the boundaries, you leave your safe space that you alone control, and the universe will never be enough.
Look Mom! I didn’t mention the W word!
Finally, all this shouldn’t mean to bow down to Trump. We have an unprecedented attack on our democracy. Just control your expectations. Be the straight man to all the clowns.
And perhaps we should choose our battles – and jettison identity politics.
