Peanutbutter and Jelly

I was watching a news program this evening that said that the happiest nation in the world was Denmark. Why Denmark? The news program asked this question and then tried to answer itself. Apparently, in Denmark, the tick is to not expect to much and so when things work out you can be pleasantly surprised. This bolsters happiness: low expectations.

I found the concept utterly amazing. Of course, here I am: an “American” (whatever that means in the 21st century), who is expected to believe in the “American dream.” And when I say that I believe that the American Dream is a fantasy and is completely unachievable in this day and age I get odd looks, or worse. I get sour words and cold shoulders.

A couple of years ago I was talking online with some people about my philosophy on life. I remember telling somebody that I would rather be poor and stay on disability and food stamps than work 50 hours a week at a low paying job that is beneath me. Of course, nobody I talked to understood what I was saying. They assumed what I meant was that I would rather let the government support me and be lazy. This was, however, not what I meant at all.

In the US there is a mentality of Greed. You’ll hear people say this a lot, but what does it really mean?

I am for “Universal Health Care.” Well, universal isn’t quite right, is it? That’s just what our government is calling it (as if the US is the whole universe). National Health Care would be a better turn of phrase. But yes, I am for every person—young, old, of any race or economic status—having access to the SAME quality of health care in this country. Sure, most people think it’s a good idea…that is until it comes time to pay for it. And this is where the American culture of greed comes into play. NO NEW TAXES!

We all want. “I want” should be our slogan instead of “In God We Trust.” Because it’s all I see out of my fellow Americans. Give Me! Give Me! Give Me! But don’t expect me to pay for it. “I need every cent I can get!” Says Mr. Joe American, but why? “Because I work hard for my money and I should be allowed to keep it.” Wouldn’t it be better to not work so hard and still have enough? But no, because enough is never enough.

So, we horde our money away, and we don’t share it. It’s better that way, because that way we have more! More what? More strips of meaningless paper while poor children who can’t afford medical care are dying of curable diseases? WOW! We sure are an advanced society. [/sarcasm] It really boggles my mind.

Now, back to Denmark. According to this news program, Danes are happy! And the why is because they don’t expect too much out of life, but that’s ok they don’t have to. There is a complete absence of social class in their country. Everybody has “enough.” It’s practically a whole country of middle-class people. Nobody’s too rich, and nobody’s too poor. Their crime rate is the lowest in the world. They all have free health care, free elder care, free child care, and free education through university. People find jobs that they’re good at and that they love. Unlike in the US, they don’t work because they have to scrape and pinch every penny just to get by. They work because they want to, because they love their jobs, and it doesn’t matter one hill-o-beans if it’s a high paying job. They know that they will be taken care of. Wow, now that sounds like a way to live. Screw the American Dream. I want the Danish Dream.

It just seems to me like true happiness and the so-called “American Dream” are at odds with each other. We are a nation of greed. It’s never enough to have enough. We always want more! And having more has never equated to being happy. We know this logically, but yet we still strive to have MORE!

MORE! MORE! MORE! And what has it gotten us? More war, more poverty, more violence, more hate; all the things that, as a society, make us less.

The world is changing, and the once great and powerful America is being left behind. We need to change our mindset. I know, that’s easier said that done, but it’s not impossible. I strive to want less. I strive to live in a way that less is literally more. I strive to share what I have with those that have even less than I do. I strive to take care of myself, my planet, and my fellow human being. There are others in the US like me, but only few, and so America still falls behind.

America is not the greatest country in the world, at least not anymore. We need to pull our blinders off. We need to stop wallowing in our perceived “greatness” and look at what we really are so that we can improve. There is room to improve, but the mentality that we are “the greatest” (to quote Mohammed Ali) has left us stagnant and stale. We need to put our ideals and our dreams behind us, and dream smaller and want less like Denmark does. We need to lower our expectations so we can know true happiness when things work out for the best.

I don’t know if this is likely to ever happen. We are so set in our ways. And I know that its part of my culture—the culture of greed. So, if I am going to be an American, and play that game, then I’m going to be greedy too. I’m going to want for things too. I know it. I’m not stupid, but I, at least, know it and can work to change it within myself. That’s a first step, and the rest of what I want will have to just wait. Right now, my expectations are low.

15 June 2008 @ 9:25 pm