People suffer under dictators

OPINION:

In this year’s World Happiness Report, Russia ranks 70th out of 96 nations, which to this former visitor seems about right.

What country tops the list? Little Finland. Although next door to gloomy Russia, Finland has been ranked first for eight years in a row. This is quite an achievement. 

Considering its huge happiness gap, Russia could learn a lot from Finland. Instead, Russian President Vladimir Putin is busy invading Ukraine. He is expending massive resources in a bloody attempt to make the world’s biggest country a little bigger. This is how a series of czars built Russia into what Lenin called a “prison house of nations.” Whatever its ideology, despotic Russia remains despotic Russia.

The Russian people should take note of the fact that small countries are the happiest. After Finland on the happiness list come Denmark, Iceland, Israel, the Netherlands, Sweden and Norway. The listed countries are pretty small until we get to Australia, at number 12. The U.S. ranks 15th — not bad for one of the world’s largest nations. 

China is the 64th happiest country. Rather than striving for a more respectable rank, President Xi Jinping, like Vladimir Putin, is bent on expanding his territory. Mr. Xi wants to gobble up Taiwan, which in 27th place is far happier than China. The latter would be much better off if conquered by Taiwan.

Russia and China risk World War III in order to please two men driven by vanity and unconcerned about the happiness of their people. We need to publicize this important and shameful fact as much as possible. The old global value system needs adjustment. Now is a good time.

EUGENE WINDCHY

Centreville, Virginia