Outer oblectation...

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[edit 17:45] Snow, ice and cold beats sun, sand and heat in the happiness stakes it would seem; or as Bloomberg tells us "Happiness seems to be most abundant a long way from the equator"... ..."The 10 happiest countries are Switzerland, Iceland, Denmark, Norway, Canada, Finland, Netherlands, Sweden, New Zealand, and Australia"  ... and "Except for war-torn Syria and Afghanistan, the 10 unhappiest countries are all in Saharan or sub-Saharan Africa" in the World Happiness Report 2015, measuring not GDP/GNP but gross national happiness [GNH]. The UK is just off the left hand chart at #21. 

Outer oblectation...

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[edit 17:45] Snow, ice and cold beats sun, sand and heat in the happiness stakes it would seem; or as Bloomberg tells us "Happiness seems to be most abundant a long way from the equator"... ..."The 10 happiest countries are Switzerland, Iceland, Denmark, Norway, Canada, Finland, Netherlands, Sweden, New Zealand, and Australia"  ... and "Except for war-torn Syria and Afghanistan, the 10 unhappiest countries are all in Saharan or sub-Saharan Africa" in the World Happiness Report 2015, measuring not GDP/GNP but gross national happiness [GNH]. The UK is just off the left hand chart at #21. 

Obumma...

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Gallup has this poll: Americans Downbeat on State of U.S., Prospects for Future. It seems to be mainly a partisan split as most Republicans seem to think best days are behind them and most Democrats hope the best days are ahead. The figure was as low in 2010 BUT that is fewer estadounidenses than have said so at any point since 1979! Similarly, this chimes with their assessment of satisfaction with the way things are going in the USA: the general country mood is 25% satisfied, still below the historical average satisfaction rating (it hasn't been over 40% since mid 2005!).

Obumma...

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Gallup has this poll: Americans Downbeat on State of U.S., Prospects for Future. It seems to be mainly a partisan split as most Republicans seem to think best days are behind them and most Democrats hope the best days are ahead. The figure was as low in 2010 BUT that is fewer estadounidenses than have said so at any point since 1979! Similarly, this chimes with their assessment of satisfaction with the way things are going in the USA: the general country mood is 25% satisfied, still below the historical average satisfaction rating (it hasn't been over 40% since mid 2005!).