American Exceptionalism - Good Cheer edition

From Americans are in an unusually good mood — all the time by Ana Swanson.

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People in poorer countries were more likely than those in richer nations to say the day was a good one; the chart above shows a slight negative correlation between saying the day is a good one and gross domestic product per capita. However, the U.S. is a major outlier, with the highest GDP per capita among countries surveyed and a disproportionately high measure of reportedly good days. Forty one percent of Americans surveyed said they were having a good day, while 49 percent said the day was typical and 8% said it was bad.

This is very weak data and the effect is probably simply an artifact of either cultural or linguistic constructs. None-the-less, it is consistent with a long standing trope of Americans being more optimistic, can-do and enthusiastic than most nations. One of the bricks in the wall of American Exceptionalism.

Decades ago the lamentedly long-lapsed British magazine Punch had a cartoon that nicely illustrated the British attitude towards Americans in this regard.

In the foreground there are a series of heavenly clouds with a couple of angels standing by the Pearly Gates. They are turned towards a cloud in the background from which are coming sounds of cheering and celebration. The first angel says to the second something to the effect of "What is happening over there?" To which the second responds with a rueful shake of the head "Its the Americans. They've struck oil." I have always thought that was a succinct expression of the British attitude towards Americans. Even in Heaven they expect Americans to be striving, taking risks and celebrating.