Does Money Buy Happiness?

[quote]streamline wrote:
Just got my tax return, and I’m very happy.[/quote]

I wonder if you would be as happy if an extortionist, after stealing ten thousand dollars from you, decided to give you back five hundred.

[quote]Varqanir wrote:
“If you want to know if your society is doomed, watch money.”

To which I say, “if you want to know if your society is doomed, watch Cheney.”

When the Vice President cashes in his dollars, buys gold, and moves his company to Dubai, I’d say that’s a pretty good indication that the fecal matter is approaching the ventilator.[/quote]

Maybe this explains our invasion of the Middle East…America has been pretty heavily looted already. The oil rich nations have plenty to loot.

[quote]
streamline wrote:
Just got my tax return, and I’m very happy.

Varqanir wrote:
I wonder if you would be as happy if an extortionist, after stealing ten thousand dollars from you, decided to give you back five hundred.[/quote]

Well, I’ll tell you what will make you doubly pissed off - when an extortionist steals tens of thousands of dollars, and then refuses to give you anything back on the grounds you made too much originally…

[quote]Varqanir wrote:
streamline wrote:
Just got my tax return, and I’m very happy.

I wonder if you would be as happy if an extortionist, after stealing ten thousand dollars from you, decided to give you back five hundred.[/quote]

No! 1/20th

[quote]BostonBarrister wrote:

streamline wrote:
Just got my tax return, and I’m very happy.

Varqanir wrote:
I wonder if you would be as happy if an extortionist, after stealing ten thousand dollars from you, decided to give you back five hundred.

Well, I’ll tell you what will make you doubly pissed off - when an extortionist steals tens of thousands of dollars, and then refuses to give you anything back on the grounds you made too much originally…[/quote]

Maybe its time to go on strike?

[quote]Beowolf wrote:
If you’re rich enough to own a waverunner, you’re rich enough to buy gas.[/quote]

Being rich doesn’t mean one is smart enough to remember to fill the tank.

Ever have to swim 2 miles with a wave-runner in tow?

[quote]LIFTICVSMAXIMVS wrote:
Beowolf wrote:
If you’re rich enough to own a waverunner, you’re rich enough to buy gas.

Being rich doesn’t mean one is smart enough to remember to fill the tank.

Ever have to swim 2 miles with a wave-runner in tow?[/quote]

Ummm, I take it you were the dumbass who had to do this?

[quote]Natural Nate wrote:
Ummm, I take it you were the dumbass who had to do this?[/quote]

I live in Minnesota. I’d be a dumbass to own a wave-runner.

There are also many very unhappy wealthy people,so I would say money buys comfort,but not happiness.

[quote]Neuromancer wrote:
There are also many very unhappy wealthy people,so I would say money buys comfort,but not happiness.
[/quote]

The problem is that people think happiness is eternal. Money can buy a piece of happiness but it doesn’t guarantee that it will last very long.

Obviously, the key to happiness is not how much money one has but I know that at least when I am down $50 can buy 750ml of corked happiness.

My father used to say something humorous along these lines. He used to say:

Money can’t buy me happiness, but it can buy me the kind of misery that I like.

[quote]LIFTICVSMAXIMVS wrote:

I live in Minnesota.[/quote]

Ah. That explains the obvious hatred and jealousy towards people who have fun on wave runners.

[quote]Natural Nate wrote:
Ah. That explains the obvious hatred and jealousy towards people who have fun on wave runners.[/quote]

I grew up most of my life along the beach. I prefer more elitist activities, like sailing.