By Michael Josephson of Character Counts (501.4)

In a Peanuts cartoon, Lucy asks Charlie Brown, "Why do you think we were put on earth?"

Charlie answers, "To make others happy."

Lucy replies, "I don't think I'm making anyone happy," and then adds, "but nobody's making me very happy either. Somebody's not doing his job!"

People like Lucy are so sure happiness is a matter of getting something that they ask not what they can do for others but what others can and should do for them. They usually feel shortchanged or cheated. They become so preoccupied with what they don't have that they can't enjoy what they do have.

What's more, they don't realize one of the best ways to be happy is to experience the joy and sense of self-worth of making others happy.

Dennis Prager, in his book, Happiness Is a Serious Problem, argues that it's human nature to want and feel we need more. The problem is, the quest for more is endless because we can always add more to whatever we have. As a result, the Lucys of the world often live in an "if only" world that keeps them one step away from happiness: "If only I could get this raise, make this sale, pay off my debts, or win this game, I'd be happy."

Abraham Lincoln understood that happiness is essentially a way of looking at one's life. "A person is generally about as happy as he's willing to be," he said. Thus, we're more likely to experience happiness if we realize it's not just getting what we want. It's learning to want what we get.

I don't think that your conclusion is the dumbest.
I don't think it is the smartest either. In the U.S.A,'the government' consists of 'we the people', and yes, some are very greedy. But more are very generous when it comes to helping the poor. Take your eyes off the corrupt for a while, look at those who are helping the poor, not only here but all over the world.

Politically, we are as devided as we've ever been and as long as the two major political parties, Democrats (libs) and the Republicans (conservatives), play the blame game, refuse to work together it will only get worse. Now, guess whose fault it is... Who put them in office and keeps them there....'we the people'.
Many have become disgusted, lost hope and don't 'waste' their time VOTING. If a third of each side would open their eyes, work together, win the 'disgusted and disheartened', that would make a majority. Can't, won't happen, you say? Can, only if we try.

Husband and wife are lying quietly in bed reading when the wife looks over at him and asks the question.

WIFE: "What would you do if I died? Would you get married again?"

HUSBAND: "Definitely not!"

WIFE: "Why not? Don't you like being married?"

HUSBAND: "Of course I do."

WIFE: "Then why wouldn't you remarry?"

HUSBAND: "Okay, okay, I'd get married again."

WIFE: "You would? (With a hurt look)

HUSBAND: (makes audible groan)

WIFE: "Would you live in our house?"

HUSBAND: "Sure. It's a great house."

WIFE: "Would you sleep with her in our bed?"

HUSBAND: "Where else would we sleep?"

WIFE: "Would you let her drive my car?"

HUSBAND: "Probably. It is almost new."

WIFE: "Would you replace my pictures with hers?"

HUSBAND: "That would seem like the proper thing to do."

WIFE: "Would you give her my jewelry?"

HUSBAND: "No. I'm sure she'd want her own."

WIFE: "Would you take her golfing with you?"

HUSBAND: "Yes. Those are always good times."

WIFE: "Would she use my clubs?"

HUSBAND: "No. She's left-handed."

WIFE: - silence -

HUSBAND: “. . . Sh*t!"

A precious little girl walks into a pet shop and asks, in the
sweetest little lisp, between two missing teeth,

'Excuthe me, mithter, do you keep widdle wabbits?'

As the shopkeeper's heart melts, he gets down on his knees so that he's on her level and asks, 'Do you want a widdle white wabbit, or a thoft and fuwwy bwack wabbit, or maybe one like that cute widdle bwown wabbit over there?'

She, in turn, blushes, rocks on her heels, puts her hands on her
knees, leans forward and says, in a tiny quiet voice,

"I don't think my python weally gives a thit."

I'm sorry bookworm, this mean streak of mine keeps popping up at bad times.

I read somewhere that we all swallow spiders in our sleep...
pleasant dreams bookworm.

Mile, you might wanta go ahead and set up your telescope. Tho Mars will not appear as another moon, it will still closer to us than it has in a lot of years and, weather permitting, you should get a good look. NASA says that Mars will not come this close for another 280 years.

Morals and ethics are pretty much the same I would define them as standards of conduct.
I was taught that moral philosophy is the same as ethics.

Was wondering what happened to u,,,just kidding,

Thanks for sharing....

"This despite a U.N. report released this year which stated that an aging population and downward spiraling birthrates will result in a labor deficit that will call for an influx of 35 million adult immigrants by the year 2025 to stabilize labor and economic conditions.

Right now, today, most of Western Europe is suffering from a lack of labor for low-paying jobs, as well as a gap in the technology pool. Foreigners can help fill these slots. Unless Europeans start having a lot more babies, right now, experts find it difficult to imagine how the need for immigration might diminish."

Hmm, sounds familiar...seems I've heard that spouted as a reason for the need of illegal immigrants in the U.S.

Lets see, estimated 12-20 million illegals in U.S., probably double that would be closer. I've read that since Roe vs Wade
over 50 million babies have been aborted in the U.S.
Something doesn't make since to me.

Hi everyone....good to see you Michael

"There are no secrets to success. It is the result of preparation, hard work, and learning from failure." – Colin Powell

"People seldom get dizzy from doing good turns." – Unknown

"Everyone wants to be appreciated. So if you appreciate someone, don't keep it a secret." – Mary Kay Ash

"Better to be prepared and not called than to be called and not prepared." – Jim Wallace

"Sticks and stones may break my bones but names may break my heart" – Linda McCartney

"When one door closes another one opens; but we so often look so long and so regretfully upon the closed door that we do not see the ones which open for us." – Alexander Graham Bell

"If you would hit the mark, you must aim a little above it; every arrow that flies feels the attraction of earth." – Henry Wadsworth Longfellow

Just stop the 'war'....

Be nice if it was that simple...well we could stop it just like we stopped the Korean 'war' and the Viet-Nam 'war', we could surrender, tuck our tail and bring our forces home...then all would have been in vain. We could then watch the blood bath in Iraq and Iran on tv.

We are not at war with Iraq. Congress has not declared war on anyone since ww2. We are engaged in a 'police action'.
On the other hand, as Gardens' post points out, the terrorists declared war on us in 1979.

So, why not plead with the terrorists to stop the war?

I care!