Happy Republicans, Angry Democrats?

I'm in the process of getting organized for next month's move, so if you don't mind I need to lighten the box known as "Bits And Pieces" today . . .

-- Are you happy with your life, or does it just suck?

Are things going well for you, or does it seem to be one problem after another?

Is the glass half full with more water one the way, or half empty with a leak in the bottom?

The Pew Research Center has done a study on people's attitudes toward life and their political leanings, and what they have found is the following:

** Republicans are happy and optimistic

** Democrats are angry and pessimistic

According to a story in the Washington Post, people were polled about their outlook on life, and they found that 37 percent of Republicans are "very happy," compared with 25 percent of Democrats. In fact, 88 percent of Republicans were either "very happy" or "pretty happy," compared to 77 percent of Democrats. Only 9 percent of Republicans are "not too happy," compared to 20 percent of Democrats.

The happiness gap between the two major political affiliations was first discovered in 1972 through government-funded research. This year, there are a very huge number of happy Republicans and pissed-off Democrats, which might explain some of the negative advertising that's going on in politics these days.

The study also found that Republicans think success is determined by one's own efforts, while Democrats think success is determined by outside forces. This might also explain why McCain wants to give tax breaks to the rich, while Obama wants us to dive head-first into Socialism by "spreading the wealth around."

The study did not determine whether independent-thinking individuals, such as myself, were either happy OR sad. I can't speak for others, but I'm just happy I'm neither Republican NOR Democrat . . . and sad that I'm probably going to have to put up with another four years of crap from these morons representing both parties in Washington.

-- Remember when gas shot up over $3 a gallon?

Doesn't seem like it was that long ago, but it was about 6-8 months ago that the price of a gallon of gas soared above $3 and flirted with $4 in some parts of the Midwest.

I remember hearing some talking bobblehead on the Idiot Box saying, at that time, that we'd probably never see gas under $3 a gallon again. This afternoon, however, I saw one area gas station advertising gas at $2.21 per gallon.

The price of a gallon of gas dipped under $3 about a month ago, and it's been falling like a stone ever since. Not that long ago, it cost me $58 to fill up my car. The cost to fill it up a few days ago? Less than $40.

The price of a gallon of crude oil was up in the stratosphere earlier this year, reaching well over $120 a gallon. It's now half that, and the godfathers at OPEC are going to cut production in an effort to try and drive prices back up again.

The lesson I hope we all learned from earlier this year is to cut back on the consumption of gasoline, taking better care of our vehicles and getting more done in fewer trips around town. Until our government decides that we shouldn't be subsidizing foreign countries who'd like to see us crumble into oblivion, and instead work on alternative fuel sources that would lessen -- or even eliminate -- our dependence on foreign oil, it's going to be up to us to keep the price of gas in check.

-- You never realize how much you use your back until you hurt it.

I've had back troubles for the last several years, starting with the time I tried to lug a box full of T-shirts up a flight of stairs back in the early days of my web publishing ventures.

It doesn't take a whole lot of effort now to send my back into oblivion. A couple of weeks ago, I tried carrying my overnight bag, a computer bag and camera bag on my shoulders while lugging a garbage bag full of trash down the stairs prior to a trip to visit family.

It's taken two full weeks and numerous trips to the chiropractor for me to be able to move around without any pain. Sitting, standing, or even getting adjusted in bed felt like somebody had jammed a knife in my back.

It was even worse last fall when I lost a wrestling match with a full keg of beer when I was part-timing it as a bartender. That back injury led to some bigger problems, which ultimately led to the discovery of the testicular cyst I had removed about a year ago. I'm generally one of those guys who just grinds it out and counts on the pain eventually going away -- sort of like an annoying acquaintance who overstays their welcome. That pain, though, was so bad that it had me crying on the way to the doctor.

With a move coming up, I'm going to be relying quite a bit on the backs of those who are younger and less apt to go out of whack than mine . . . or make fast friends with the local chiropractor in my new home town.

That's all for now, folks . . . more thoughts and observations on the Halloween edition of DGMS coming up Friday.

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