Category Archives: Summary

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In Bill De Blasio’s primary victory speech he discusses various points in making NYC a better place for it’s citizens. He refers to current dilemmas that need to be addressed and solved. De Blasio mentions how pro active policing became racial profiling, the wealthy rebounded from the great recession while half of New York citizens are living in poverty and parents fearing their children will not be able to obtain a college education. He wants to make New York a better place to live and get it back to where it used to be if not better. He believes there was a time when New Yorkers supported each other and helped each other through any circumstances. September 11, was a primary example. It was mentioned how people helped one another without any questions asked or economic stability, race or anything else being relevant as compared to now where luxury condos are replacing community hospitals. De Blasio also believes all children should be given the opportunity to reach their full potential and that their chance is being taken away from them. It is also mentioned how the wealthy who make half a million dollars or more are being asked to pay a little more in taxes to fund after school programs and pre-k but that they believe too much is being asked of them but De Blasio disagrees and goes on to mention why it’s necessary and is in fact important. The last point made was stop and frisk. Young African american people or people of color in general being stopped without cause and how it is unsafe for the victims and unsafe for the police.

De Blasio uses pathos throughout his speech when referring to 911. During his speech he refers back to the tragedy and people’s loved ones. He sympathizes with them which makes his audience believe he understands their grief and is on their side. He uses logos when speaking about the wealthy and the poor. While the rich is living comfortably the poor is struggling to make a living and provide proper education and future for their children. Ethos is applied when he constantly mentions how he himself is a New Yorker and knows how we feel. He mentions how others believe we are asking for too much but we are aiming high because “we are New Yorkers” and are born thinking big. He strokes the audiences ego by saying we are proud citizens of the greatest city in the greatest county on earth, and we make it great.

De Blasio is for the poor, he is trying to make a change in how they live and have equal opportunities as the wealthy. He believes New York can go back to being a city where everyone cares for one another and have each other’s shoulders to lean on. That is the city he is trying to re-create and re-establish. With tackling the current problems that burdens New Yorkers and solving them it will eventually equal to our well-being and happiness. In Joe Lhota’s primary victory speech he speaks on unifying the city and making the public and government go hand in hand. He believes that everyone in the city has more in common than differences. When speaking about the common desires of the people he mentions safe streets, proper education for children for a better future, good paying jobs to secure food and shelter for their families and strong quality life. Lhota believes that New York is on a good route and wants to continue going that way. Crime is at historic lows, economy is expanding and large industries are providing good paying job which is everything everyone is rooting for. Throughout his speech he makes sure that the audience is aware of the other parties in what he believes are mistakes. He believes that stop and frisk should continue and that New Yorkers should be strongly supportive of the NYPD in order to have safer streets. He also goes for children having a good strong education but believes parents should be participating in the process. Lhota states that he can bring the city together so that we can have a stronger foundation and get things done.

Lhota uses pathos when referring to everyone having more in common than differences. By him saying this the people then start to feel as if they all want the same things and really are united. He uses logos when stop & frisk is brought up. He states that stop & frisk must continue and that the NYPD should be fully supported on it to keep our streets safe. The NYPD doesn’t have to stop and frisk in order for the streets to be safe, there are other ways. Lastly, ethos is applied when Lhota mentions that New Yorkers are unlike any other people in this world and have spirit, drive and are unstoppable. He appeals to their characters by telling them how great they are.

Lhota is for the middle class. He wants the city and government to be united and work together to make New York a better place to live and grow. Lhota wants the people to participate and feel like their voices are being heard by making monthly meetings where the public speaks on improvements needed to make New York a better place. So the public and government work together instead of against each other. He also believes in strengthening the education system and the NYPD.

Visions Of Well Being Of NY

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In the 2 victory speeches that were presented on YouTube of both Bill De Blasio and & Joe Lhota, You see that they were both thankful for the fact that they have a chance against making a change for the city of New York. Each of these candidates for mayor had a different approach that had to do with specifically how they would change the living for people in NYC and the educational system in NYC. In the Bill De Blasio video in the time length of 15:35-16:40, He states that NYC is a huge city and that the city has gone through to much to go backwards as a city and should go forward and how different NYC is a different city & he knows that there is a long road of ahead of making a change in the city. But however he thinks that the city should think big as a city and that change is desired and should be simulated always into everything in NY. He doesn’t want to settle for anything. He was very vague in everything he said. He made sure to mention that to mention the police problems of “Stop And Frisk” not making it a safe place for both the new Yorkers and the NYPD. As you can see through the time of 17:00-17:45 he knows and realizes that NYC can change and move as a community and also knows that he cares about the happiness of everybody that lives in NY and wants to try and talk about more of the problems that people deal with in the city rather than the problems in political office. As for however Joe Lhota sounded more of the opposite. Ironically enough he is a republican. I think he spoke more about his office rather than the city itself. Yes he talks about how much value the city should have but I don’t think he went in depth more like the way Bill did on the happiness of the people in NYC. For example, 18:00-19:00 mark of the video with Joe Lhota. He states that we should all just try and support the NYPD because they are just trying to protect the city but however they don’t make the people feel entirely safe according to Bill De Blassio because of things like the “Stop & Frisk” rule that is around.

So the differences that I see in-between both of these candidates is hat both of them have a different type of vision. They both have different types of leadership. However one believes in helping the people more than the other. Like I believed in the beginning that just because Joe is a republican he would talk more about himself and not the people’s desires and changes in the city and that Bill would talk more about changing the city for the better of the peoples happiness rather than him just building off this opportunity to gain his name more attention. In my Opinion it just seems like Bill was more of a mayor than Joe Lhota was as far as speech’s go. Being mayor means putting the city in order and in big city’s like NYC or LA it means a lot to be a leader for the people and not just for yourself because you have to support in making the city a place to be living in. Like making it affordable to live in the cities and making it a safe place by lowering the crime and also making jobs easier for people to have and find. So I just think that one has a more clear vision for the people living in the city while another has a clear vision of just the city itself.

Can Money Buy Happiness?

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Sonja Lyubomirsky published an article titled “How To Buy Happiness: What Good Is Money If It Cant Buy Happiness?” on September 2, 2013. In the article there was a survey in 279 colleges where college freshmen were asked what was the most important goal in their life 77 percent of them answered “being very well off financially”. Sonja spoke to an Ivy League plastic surgeon. The plastic surgeon had everything he could ask for with his wealth. With time he said that he didn’t feel motivated anymore, it was hard for him to get up from his bed. He also said he had everything he wanted but didn’t feel happy. Research shows that if someone has the basic needs to survive the amount of money one has doesn’t matter, what matters is the way the money is being spent. Wealthy people have much more opportunities because they are able to afford anything they want, but don’t seem to be happy. Wealthy people were asked how happy they were yesterday and they were didn’t report to feeling happy. Sonja found that people usually get used to positive changes. Cornell University and University of Colorado at Boulder shows that experiences makes people happy not material things. Material things don’t change over time and they get old. People will want to replace them with time to get something better. Experiences will never get old. People can always think make to the memories and feel happy about the time they enjoyed. While material things doesn’t give someone long lasting happiness experiences and memories do. People could increase their happiness by using their money for need satisfying pursuits. Need satisfying pursuits such as making someone grow as a person for example setting a goal and then achieving their goal. This will make them feel good and confident about themselves which will make them happy. Another way to boot up happiness is by treating others with your money. Studies have shown that when sharing with others has a great impact in you well-being and happiness. It is seen that in the United States people that are already wealthy seem to work long hours instead of cutting hours since they are already wealthy and going out to enjoy free time. The major aspect of happy money is in the way people spend it not how much the person has of it.

This article is very similar to the article “How to buy happiness” by Elizabeth Dunn and Micheal Norton. Both articles said that people get more happiness from experiences than from material items. I agree because just like Sonja said material items get old and people will always want to buy something new, but memories last forever. Another point that both articles had in common was that giving to other increases ones happiness. Which is true because after you give you will feel like you did something that will make the other person feel happy, making yourself feel good and happy of what you have done. I found interesting that Sonja mentioned that wealthy people work long hours. It is true because they are money hunger and will not be satisfied with the amount they have.Thinking that the more money they have the more happy they will be which is false.

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In the article, “How to Buy Happiness” by Sonja Lyubomirsky it talks about the relationship between money and happiness. It states it matters more how we spend our money then how much we possess. Money does provide us with certain opportunities, luxury, status, respect, a better job etc but this happiness does not always last for so long. It’s almost as if we are programmed to believe the more money we have the happier we are. But even the person with the most money can be the most miserable.

Rather than going out and buying a new pair of shoes, let’s go on out and buy an experience! Experiences with friends and family can last a lifetime. Material things are exciting for that one moment but soon the excitement starts to die out. But with an experience those memories will live on with you and will allow you to relive it with the people you experienced them with. These experiences will also allow us to not compare them to others because people tend to compare their lives to others.

Spending money on others and on need-satisfying goals can increase one’s happiness. Spending money on others allows someone to do something for someone other than themselves. Spending money on need-satisfying goals may be something they’ve been wanting to do for themselves that will benefit them greatly in the future or spending money in order to do something for someone else, such as charity. Also having time to do all these things would help in creating these experiences and having time to do all these things.

If only money could actually buy us happiness. It’s not about how much money we have but what we do with it matters so much more.

 

#3 Using Money the Right Way to Be Happy

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In “How to Buy Happiness” by Sonja Lyubomirsky, She  discusses how others may use money as a reason to be “happy”. Many people have money and buy themselves luxuries that they want and then claim to be happy. But in this article an Ivy League educated plastic surgeon says that he ” had difficulty feeling motivated”. This shows that “he realized he had everything wanted, but was completely miserable”. With this being shown, one can see that having a lot of money and everything you want, is not necessarily being happy. Many wealthy people out there have so many luxuries and an abundance of money yet there wealthiness doesn’t compliment their happiness. As people say that money is power, both Sonja Lyubomirsky, Elizabeth Dunn and Michael Norton, from the op-ed article “How to Buy Happiness” argue that money is better related to peoples happiness when they use the money for unselfish reasons other than material possessions. Both articles support the fact that “buying happiness is to spend money on others instead of ourselves”. Many studies show that experiences and memories make us happier than materialistic possessions. Luxurious things like the latest phone that came out may make you happy temporarily, it is only a matter of time until it gets scratched, dull, and broken. As in spending money on a family trip may be more meaningful because even months after you come back you can remember those good times and it can spark a smile any day. Sonja says in her article that some research has shown that “spending money on need-satisfying goals…can trigger  ‘upward spirals’ -that is, streams of happy moods etc.” Spending money to satisfy others can make people feel better and happier. So that is to say that spending your money on a movie for your little brother can bring you more happiness than buying yourself a new watch. Money supplies our well-being and helps us survive this is true, but using money to be happy is more complicated then that. We think we are happy because we have money but happiness is deeper than that. Studies show that we are more happy when we use our money to do “satisfying pursuits”. In other words we feel good about ourselves when we give to others. Using money to have more “free” times with those who we love, can increase our happiness level. like Sonja says in her article “Sharing with others also stimulates positive social interactions, spawns new friendships and relationships, and improves old ones… extending generosity is one of the simplest and most powerful ways to bolster and sustain well-being”. We buy happiness by choosing to spend money on meaningful things.

If it can’t be bought, now what?

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In the article, “How to buy happiness: what good is money if it can’t buy happiness” by Sonja Lyubomirsky they ask college freshmen about their most important life goal and more than half of the percentage checked off being wealthy. In the article she asks what does being wealthy do for our well-being? What does it do for us? Lyubomirsky spoke to a plastic surgeon who in the eyes of a average person would seem to have it all. He was wealthy, owned several luxurious items, a wife and had a stable job. He admitted to loving it at first but after a while it all got boring and dull. He had lost his motivation and his high paying job wasn’t all he had once thought it was cracked up to be. A lot believe that a persons paycheck has everything to do with their well being because of what it can provide for you but through this article they shine a different light on the topic asking you if you have the wealth, how do you buy happiness.

The article states that money does in fact supply our well being but to an extent. Our well being doesn’t revolve around money yet society believes that without it we are nothing. It helps but it is not everything. Money provides more of desired items than anything else. Possessions are only desired for a short period of time before it’s just another object lying around because after it being around for a long period of time it becomes uneventful. If an individual compares a material item with a past experience, the experience would be more important. The article states that past events can grow more meaning over time rather than becoming dull or repetitive like an object. When given an example about how two people can grow a bond, it makes you think more thoroughly about how relationships are made. Two people are more likely to build a relationship or friendship based on a common experience rather than wearing the same shirt. Another example they gave was how individuals like to compete and feel as if they are better or not beneath anyone. Possessions are more likely to be compared than memories.

The article also enlightens it’s audience with introducing a different way to trigger happiness. A lot of people believe that buy blowing huge amounts of money on luxurious things will make you happy when in fact spending money on just satisfying your basic needs is proven to cause happiness. Also spending money on people who are less fortunately and in more need than you can cause happiness. Little things such as not working as much and spending your time doing more things you love or with people you love makes you more content. Happiness doesn’t lie in success and money but how we spend our time.

This piece by Lyubomirsky reminded me of “How to buy happiness” by Elizabeth Dunn and Michael Norton. In both articles they share insight on why they believe happiness isn’t all about money. As little as spending five dollars can make you happy. If people were to spend more time trying to enjoy themselves with people who make them feel happy they’d understand why money isn’t everything they believe it is. Money is essential in life but it isn’t everything. Happiness shouldn’t revolve around a dollar.

Happiness for Sale!

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In Sunja Lubmirsky’s article “How to Buy Happiness” points out the main factor of happiness. She believes that having possessions and materialistic things is not important if you have not experienced anything in life. She spoke to an Ivy League educated plastic surgeon with booming private practice about how happy he was. although he owned many expensive things that did make him happy. research showed that if you have these things and your basic needs are not met you happiness will not increase. She also studied and came to the conclusion just like Elizabeth Dunn and Michael Norton who wrote that spending your wealth with others will make your chances of becoming happier greater. Using the money that we have and outing it towards something that will help us grow is another in which she felt would help gain happiness. Buying more time meaning if we spend our money to give us more open and free time will make room for things you weren’t able to do before. At the end of her article she asked the question “What good is money if it cant but happiness?” and her answer was simply stating its not what you have but its what you do with what you have.

whenever somebody says that its not about the money its about life experience I automatically agree. People fail to realize if they buy a fancy car or a big house that does not mean that the sadness or depression that u faced in your old car or your small apartment will go away. if you used the money to do something you enjoy or go somewhere you always wanted to go is what would make you happy. When you do share amongst your peers, loves ones and friends is increases your happiness not only because you shared but because you did something for someone other than yourself. So instead of buying a fancy car or a new gold watch go somewhere excited and share that excitement with someone else and you will be happier than ever.

Happiness Archive #3: summary/response to Lyubomirsky article

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In Psychology Today’s article “How To Buy Happiness” by Sonja Lyubomirsky, she writes about the association of money to happiness. She goes ahead to describe the difference between the experiences and the material things bought with money. She also tells about how spending money on others can result in sustaining ones well being and when spending money, it should be on “need-satisfying goals.

After reading the article I was convinced by the writer’s compelling points of buying happiness. Although money can’t buy happiness it can buy experiences that will leave a longer lasting impression in our memories. Making it possible to revisit at any point and time. Also when buying an experience it may bring us closer to others. A simple movie date with a loved one, can provide happiness that you both can share. Wherein the material things that we may spend allot of money on, such as, cars,jewelry, tech devices and gadgets don’t last forever. After awhile they become invalid and useless ending the temporary happiness that was created when the items were bought.

Possessions are more likely to be compared. giving us a sense of insecurities when someone comes with newest modeled car, or new version gadget. When we compare ourselves to others we are less happy. We might feel insufficient, bringing all types of self doubt; thus, not being happy.

We can also have a great deal of happiness when we spend our money on something to better ourselves, grow; Such as an education. I spend money coming to and from school, on books, on copies, on clothes, etc…. but there is a bigger picture. The fact that the money being spent is to further myself, it adds to my well being. My Bachelors degree will be very self satisfying. It will contribute to my happiness. Giving me the ability to be a better person , by helping others. Whether it be with my career or just being a strong, proud,African American, single mother. I will have something to show and prove to my children. So yes, I’m buying my happiness through experience. that I will someday share with my children, my clients or maybe even someday, THE WORLD!!!!!!!!!

 

How Happy Can You Really Become?

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As stated in this article “How to buy happiness” by Elizabeth Dunn and Michael Norton they state how happy can you really be if you are a loner or a giver. They state that your happiness can’t be bought by material goods but for lasting happiness giving to others can make you a happier person. To give to others your experiencing new things and are also getting closer to people. Don’t always enjoy things on your own, to make yourself feel happier you spend on others. They stated “Decades of research point to the importance of social contact for improving mental and physical health.” They proved this by doing an experiment which they handed out Starbucks gift cards and that group who had to buy something for someone else was happier. They shared that experience with the person.

I agree with this article because sometimes you need to do things for others to make yourself feel happy that you did something for someone else. I myself know that if I want to go somewhere I ask my brother to tag along because I don’t want to be by myself. Having things to do with others can bring up your self-esteem and build a more positive attitude for yourself and towards other individuals.

Happiness Archive #2: summary/response to “How to buy Happiness”

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The importance of how we use our money can contribute to our happiness opposed to how much of it we have. In the article the author starts by introducing the idea of discovering a $1 million under our mattress, and the contemplation on what would be done with the money. The mere fact that the first thing that would come to mind would be ” what that money can do for US?” is a sign that money can bring out the selfish side. Thinking about all the material things to purchase often fails to give us complete satisfaction, “HAPPINESS”. Wherein changing how we spend the money can leave a more lasting affect of happiness. Research shows that “homeowners were no happier than renters on average”. Before reading this article, this would have been something I’d disagree with, but the points shown has given me a new perspective.

We spend most of our time working so hard to live “comfortably” or “lavishly” that we in fact forget to actually “LIVE”. Saving up with no social life isn’t such a good idea because there is an importance of social contact for improving our well being. Studies also show that there is more happiness in the experience than in the material things. the value of experience tends to grow with our memories of them. Experiences come with more benefit because, more than likely we tend to do them with others. Connecting both the experience with the socializing wherein measuring to a more fulfillment of happiness.

Another way is in fact doing for others. Experiments show that doing for others can also result in your own happiness. Actually combining the experience and giving can increase happiness. The experiment with the gift cards showed that people were more happy with the idea of giving and partaking at the same time, which made it a shared experience. So switching spending to the experience can leave a longer lasting valued affect!!!