and this sourness affects the national mood, propelling a far-rightist to the presidential finals 5 years ago -- and maybe again this year

there is polling data on this, I will Google it

[ 05 March 2007: Message edited by: Geneva ]

[the link above was originally a Harris Poll on rates of satisfaction in Europe vs. US, broadly showing a few countries in Europe ahead of US life satisfaction ratings, but many countries well behind;
does not link when made Tiny, and original link too long]

a brief summary:

The Harris Poll® #55, July 20, 2005

Americans Remain More Optimistic and Satisfied with Life than Europeans

Majority of Americans - but majorities in only five of 15 European countries - believe their lives have improved in the last five years

With a few exceptions, Americans are generally happier with their lives and more optimistic about their future than are Europeans, according to a new Harris Poll. In this survey, Americans were asked some of the same questions that were asked in a recent Eurobarometer survey conducted for the European Union.

The big picture is that Americans are much more satisfied with their lives, much more likely to believe that their lives have improved and much more likely to expect their personal situations will improve than most Europeans.

Fully 58 percent of Americans are very satisfied with their lives compared to the 15-country European average of 31 percent. Fifty-six percent of Americans think that their lives have improved in the last five years compared to 45 percent of Europeans. Furthermore, 65 percent of Americans expect their personal situation will improve in the next five years compared to only 44 percent of Europeans. However, Europe is not at all homogenous and the mood varies widely from country to country.

[ 05 March 2007: Message edited by: Geneva ]

The big picture is that Americans are much more satisfied with their lives, much more likely to believe that their lives have improved and much more likely to expect their personal situations will improve than most Europeans..........

Kinda hard to believe, after all most western European countries have good social democratic governments while the US has some sort of modified free-enterprise system led by GWB and friends.

So how can the US possibly be better?

[ 05 March 2007: Message edited by: oreobw ]