Sickness and Happiness

In the modern American world, sometimes we question the utility of additional conveniences. At some point, having more just doesn't bring us any more happiness. The post-materialists recognize that, at some point, having more pizza and beer (the favorite comodities of microeconomist) is actually a burden and utility decreases. Not to mention the Buddhists who think all consumption is just a cycle of unhappiness.

Certainly, I can see where they are coming from. Hauling away boxes of pizzas and beer cans is a pain in the ass and worrying about ever-breaking and continuously-stolen I-Pods rivals the joys of the I-Pod in the first place. And I know pleanty of absolutely miserable rich people.

But, while there is question to what brings us happiness, there is no question to what brings us unhappiness- sickness. Poor health is pure unhappiness. Those days with the flu or extreme alergies or something worse are painful and unenjoyable. Though many people opt for spartan existances and often people opt for painful challenges, no one opts to be sick. It is a horrible time with its only reward being a resistance to a single specific virus. If you're unlucky enough to get cancer, recovery never brings you back to full strength. No, sickness is something without a brightside, which is why the most successful international organization are all medical related.

When people look at how far our society has progressed and improved, oddly sickness is overlooked in favor of the easier to measure longevity. Most people know that the average American lives to be around 76, but few think about the decrease in sick days. But it is true that people spent weeks and months each year in bed sick until the 20th century. Now, its unusual if we spend more than a few days in bed twice a year. The good 'ol days sucked and the third world really does have it bad.