From the print and online editions of the nation's premier urban-policy magazine http://www.city-journal.org/cj-comments.xml?story=6526 Manhattan Institute i love it, thank you http://www.city-journal.org/comments/index.php?story=6526#7657 http://www.city-journal.org/comments/index.php?story=6526#7657 Tue, 12 Jul 2011 05:20:14 EDT It seems that Franklin might have agreed with the notion that "There is no way to Happiness, Happiness is the way..." http://www.city-journal.org/comments/index.php?story=6526#1842 http://www.city-journal.org/comments/index.php?story=6526#1842 Sun, 10 Oct 2010 19:43:07 EDT Happiness in the state of mind of Franklin is akin to accepting Karma and finding ways of treating it to our advantage.The horse probably cannot imagine being an oyster and even if it did might be incapable of letting us know.So the problems with humans is we share the frustrations and become more miserable knowing well that sharing would not help.Looking inwards and feeling happy about ourselves counting the positives is the key.Ben has treated happiness with wit and wisdom http://www.city-journal.org/comments/index.php?story=6526#1829 http://www.city-journal.org/comments/index.php?story=6526#1829 Sun, 10 Oct 2010 07:52:37 EDT His description of Franklin and his belief in happiness rings true. Abraham Lincoln said “People are about as happy as they make up their minds to be”. This sounds very much like what Franklin was saying. In both of these cases, happiness come mostly from inside a person not from external conditions. I agree with everything Weinberger wrote until the last paragraph. He discusses Franklin's view of life but makes no mention of government until the last paragraph and then states "the siren of new entitlements beckons" and how it will make us unhappy. Franklin certainly had a very distinct view of government and how it could affect human happiness, after all he was a revolutionist against the English government, a government of King and aristocrats. A bad government will cause great duress on people, look around the world and see how many governments are nothing more than klepocracy. Governments of thieves plunder their country and their citizens. Only countries with a modicum of honestly in government has any chance of prosperity for their people. Maybe Mr. Weinberger would prefer to live in 1910 instead of 2010, but most Americans would not. I beleive that Franklin would prefer the United States of 2010 rather than 1800. He was a man who preferred a better future to a mystical past. http://www.city-journal.org/comments/index.php?story=6526#1825 http://www.city-journal.org/comments/index.php?story=6526#1825 Sat, 09 Oct 2010 22:57:39 EDT I'm not sure how our new Health Care laws, which are a moral and legal responsibility, will destroy the U.S. I'm not sure how health care is an "entitlement" in the negative since. If we are "entitled" to justice in court of law then we are entitled to universal (or as close as we can get) healthy care. If a company releases certain chemicals into the air, that I breathe in, and they give me asthma, that company is entitled to pay into a fund (taxes) that will pay for my medical expenses, which wouldn't exist if not for them. Same with me, my driving around all day produces some bad by-products that make people sick. It is my moral and legal duty to make sure I pay for the mess I make. Again, I'm not sure moral responsibility is an entitlement. http://www.city-journal.org/comments/index.php?story=6526#1803 http://www.city-journal.org/comments/index.php?story=6526#1803 Thu, 07 Oct 2010 07:15:17 EDT Wow this is a hilarious example of writing our culture onto history. Doesn't it sound like a wonderful rejection of consumerism (which is, by the way, a cliche value we all love to believe everyone else but ourselves has too much of)?? But wait, ignorance is bliss then? Or no, we should be 'perfectly' ignorant. It's a very creative way of relaying the old myth of capitalist society--if you're born poor, but haven't got the 'talent' to become rich, well you'd better be happy with being poor. Gosh, silly underclass! Don't you know you're not as smart as the bourgeoisie?? http://www.city-journal.org/comments/index.php?story=6526#1802 http://www.city-journal.org/comments/index.php?story=6526#1802 Thu, 07 Oct 2010 05:38:45 EDT Forget the literature on self-help. With this essay it has all become obsolete. If I'm wrong, at least it was a delightful read. http://www.city-journal.org/comments/index.php?story=6526#1792 http://www.city-journal.org/comments/index.php?story=6526#1792 Wed, 06 Oct 2010 13:45:26 EDT I retract by comment above. Obviously I wrote it before reading the article. My apologies. http://www.city-journal.org/comments/index.php?story=6526#1791 http://www.city-journal.org/comments/index.php?story=6526#1791 Wed, 06 Oct 2010 13:44:52 EDT You are mistaken about Franklin and religion I think. Like Lincoln he began as a free-thinker but ended with a deep appreciation of the essence of our Judeo-Christian religion (not "religion" in general or some "orthodox" interpretation) as a force for good in society and the lives of individuals, including his own. This is not difficult to document: the New American Library selection of his writings contains plenty of evidence, though I don't have it by me. I should add that 18th century "Deism," however unacceptable to "orthodox" authorities, was very much in the tradition of the Hebraic conception of "God" and therefore part of that tradition; Deism (note the capital letter) always implied the existence of a universal moral law and the possibilities of rewards and punishments even if it did not include a belief in providential intervention or the power of prayer. The Biblical influence is unmistakable. http://www.city-journal.org/comments/index.php?story=6526#1790 http://www.city-journal.org/comments/index.php?story=6526#1790 Wed, 06 Oct 2010 13:29:30 EDT The author's attempt to connect Franklin's philosophy and healthcare entitlements feels forced and poorly thought out. http://www.city-journal.org/comments/index.php?story=6526#1789 http://www.city-journal.org/comments/index.php?story=6526#1789 Wed, 06 Oct 2010 13:21:58 EDT In his autobiography Ben Franklin advises one to be a con artist. Good advice now in Amerika !!! http://www.city-journal.org/comments/index.php?story=6526#1785 http://www.city-journal.org/comments/index.php?story=6526#1785 Wed, 06 Oct 2010 10:58:21 EDT Benjamin Franklin, INFORMATION TO THOSE WHO WOULD REMOVE TO AMERICA (1782): "Atheism is unknown there; infidelity rare and secret; so that persons may live to a great age in that country, without having their piety shocked by meeting with either an Atheist or an Infidel." That is why we think he would continue to trumpet the importance of religion for happiness. http://www.city-journal.org/comments/index.php?story=6526#1561 http://www.city-journal.org/comments/index.php?story=6526#1561 Mon, 27 Sep 2010 05:07:32 EDT test http://www.city-journal.org/comments/index.php?story=6526#1511 http://www.city-journal.org/comments/index.php?story=6526#1511 Thu, 23 Sep 2010 09:34:22 EDT An interesting article, but why do we think that Ben would continue to trumpet the importance of religion for happiness? Franklin's central argument is that we are responsible for making our lives what they are, given the various constraints that exist. The existentialists were right in seeing that religious beliefs of nearly all stripes generally obscure this point. Weinberger may favor religiosity but he hasn't made a convincing argument that it is at all necessary for happiness. I do understand the frequent association between religious belief and.....feeling settled and maybe even happy. A friend remarked that when she thinks of Jesus, she just feels comfortable and secure. But one can certainly feel comfortable and secure and happy without thinking of Jesus, or Allah, or whomever/whatever. That pleasure is available to atheists as well. http://www.city-journal.org/comments/index.php?story=6526#1507 http://www.city-journal.org/comments/index.php?story=6526#1507 Wed, 22 Sep 2010 09:24:16 EDT It appears to me that Franklin had this philosophy: Work hard and then do as you please when you're not working, damn the consequences. I have read some of Franklin's writings and am amused at the interpretation given here. The author of the article writes about what Franklin "means" and I pretty much can figure out for myself what Franklin meant in his writings. http://www.city-journal.org/comments/index.php?story=6526#1506 http://www.city-journal.org/comments/index.php?story=6526#1506 Wed, 22 Sep 2010 06:37:03 EDT We Americans have pretty much ignored the admonition of St. John to avoid the lust of the flesh, the lust of the eye, and the pride of life. Not a path that traditionally leads to fulfillment... http://www.city-journal.org/comments/index.php?story=6526#1504 http://www.city-journal.org/comments/index.php?story=6526#1504 Tue, 21 Sep 2010 22:30:31 EDT