Another Improvement in Congress

I have been arguing for some time that the Tea Party has been the major obstacle to competent politics, and that this election cycle was their last hurrah.

Yesterday came a further sign that the prospects are improving for compromise and progress in Congress.  Senator Jim DeMint, the Tea Party leader, resigned his Senate seat to become head of the conservative think tank Heritage Foundation.

DeMint's resignation in the middle of his term of actual power is reminiscent of Governor Sarah Palin's resignation in the middle of her term of actual power.

These resignations make sense: it is hard for people with an anti-government ideology to serve in government.  It is hard for people with an anti-compromise ideology to serve in a legislature.

I look forward to better normal government in the coming year.

Gratitude: The Most Powerful Happiness Tool

This week we finished the first iteration of my "Happy Society" course.

As I reflect on what we have learned this term about what works to make people feel happier, I think reminding ourselves of how much we have to be grateful for is among the most powerful.   

With privileged people, I believe gratitude is the single most powerful tool we have.