It’s one of those three inalienable rights we’re guaranteed from the U.S. Declaration of Independence–and also the subject of a lot of recent study.  Just this week, we learned that the Pew Research Center found happiness associated with being an old, male Republican:

Americans grow happier as they age, surveys find. And a new Pew Research Center survey shows the tendency is holding up as the economy tanks.

Happiness is a complex thing. Past studies have found that happiness is partly inherited, that Republicans are happier than Democrats, and that old men tend to be happier than old women.

Ted Stevens comes to mind.

Or maybe it’s location. (more…)