According to a study by Deakin Universty’s Cahit Guven and Rudolph Saloumidis, there is a positive correlation between happiness and life expectancy.

After controlling for initial health conditions, we find that happiness extends life expectancy. 10 percent increase in happiness decreases probability of death by four percent, and this effect is more pronounced for men and younger people. Happiness plays a more important role for chronically ill people in decreasing mortality than for those who are not chronically ill. The positive influence of happiness on mortality can offset the negative impact of chronic illness. Marriage decreases mortality and this effect appears to work through increased happiness.

The average federal employee earns an annual salary almost 60% higher than the average private-sector employee — $79,000 vs. $50,000. Federal employees do have more education (on average) than private-sector workers. Their unions argue that this justifies their higher pay. But it doesn’t. Even after controlling for education and experience, federal employees get paid significantly better — 22% more per hour, on average — than private-sector workers.

James Sherk on government jobs.

According to ScienceDaily:

The Tax Foundation has a revealing quote from President Obama’s recess appointment of Dr. Donald M. Berwick, the man charged with administrating “ObamaCare”.

“Any healthcare funding plan that is just, equitable, civilized, and humane must, must redistribute wealth from the richer among us to the poorer and the less fortunate. Excellent healthcare is by definition redistributional.”

No matter what moving portrayals of the plight of America’s poor are used, or what academic terms are applied, the distribution of wealth remains nothing more than the punishing of success and the rewarding of failure – namely, the success or failure to produce. Man’s life is sustained by production, work, wealth creation. Punishing production is the equivalent of punishing breathing. Every society that has tried to distribute the wealth of its citizens has brought about its own destruction. If private individuals are moved by the plight of America’s poor, there are ample opportunities for them to help through private giving – but it is not within the proper bounds of government for the wealth of the productive to be confiscated for the sake of the unproductive.

“In questions of power, then, let no more be heard of confidence in man, but bind him down from mischief by the chains of the Constitution.”

- Thomas Jefferson

The Founding Fathers were students of history, they knew full well that mankind’s legacy is not one of peace and brotherhood, but of violence and subjugation. It seems that Americans have forgotten the tendency of man to oppress his brothers, as such we have become easy prey for promises of prosperity dependent on man’s “unselfish” virtue. “Hope” and “change” may sound like rich promises, but liberty is only guaranteed when strict measures are in place to restrain man’s basest nature.

An outstanding political cartoon from Nate Beeler, courtesy of Townhall.com: