Happiest and most miserable states

As a native West Virginian of 66 years, I totally agree that we are the most miserable state in the nation. We are unquestionally the most beautiful state; we have the most abundant natural resources (coal, gas, timber, water, etc.); and the most potential for development, home ownership, and recreation. Sadly, we are also the most corrupt state where jobs and government benefits go to the politically well-connected and their relatives while our young people must leave the state or choose a lifetime of supressive welfare. In my lifetime, I have watched carpetbaggers rape our mountaintops for easy coal and denude our forests of virgin hardwoods and leave wastelands. Presently, we are helpless and hopeless in the face of the gas frackers who will destroy our beautiful and pristine waters and leave another mess. Additionally, we are regularly voted as the top "judical hellhole" where the Appalachia Mafia control government, medical facilities, education, and the legal profession from top to bottom. Federal regulators would rather start another Afganistan than tackle the most advanced "good-ole-boy" network ever created.I apologize for all West Virginians.     

Another stupid MSN article. People are only miserable if they want to be. I'm happy just being alive, able to walk, talk, etc. It wouldn't matter WHERE I lived, I'd still be happy.

As a lifelong resident of WV, I can say that we have some of the best, hard working people in the nation. Our church families still help each other and the less fortunate. Politics are everywhere. With that said, I see the major problem as being the obsurd tax rates in local communities. Morgantown is a wonderul town, but the price you pay to stay here equals many beach front communities. As for mountain tops, I was amazed that food, fuel, and everything else is cheaper in Denver Colorado than Morgantown West Virginia?  If you want to know the truth, just listen to Hank WilliamJuinor's song, "A country boy can survive". Although I work in a professional field, I was taught how to survive off of the land, repair my own vehicles, and build my own house. Just recently, we lost power for a few days, our neighbors from the west coast went to a motel, let their plumbing freeze and burst, and their food spoil. We used our gas stove (limited) for temporary heat, and placed our food on the snow outside....  come on people. Other than the elderly or very young, can we not use common sense? Being happy isn't that hard. Watch the Titanic, and listen to Jack. It doesn't take much to be happy.

Money....money gives you options. Options make you happy. One can live very happily anywhere with adequate resources, and without adequate resources, just about anyplace can be miserable. Pretty pictures  though....except for Mississippi. Poor ol' Mississippi. 

I'm amazed PA isn't on that list considering there's damned near little manufacturing jobs left and the crackheads are spreading out of their ghettos into rural areas.

So many people commenting here have no idea what a poll is, how it works or what it means. Just because you are happy and live in a sad state (or vice-versa) does not make the poll invalid. 

Stay tuned for yet another MSN rating: Next Week, appearing here: Detroit, MI is the SAFEST, most BEAUTIFUL, PEACEFUL City in America!!

It is funny that the south is such a miserable place to live.  All of us southerners should take our chances in Chicago, Detroit, Philly..you name it.  Northerners are the rudest people on earth but I guess not saying hello to your neighbor an having FU as a normal part of your vocabulary means you are happy. The one person got it right, you can be happy anywhere in this country and you can be miserable anywhere in this country. And oh yes, I do understand what a poll is. It is where some group targets a certain type of people and then pretends that it represents everyone. POLLS ARE STUPID... PEOPLE LIE!

This is nothing but diatribe.  I have seen surveys/polls in the past where Southerners/red states were the happiest and one I know MSN will love; one where red states gave more of their income to charity than blue states.  I'm pretty sure this is a fishing trip here.  Southerners have always been known as the happier, more hospitable.  But where they may have gotten it right is I will agree that while the South is getting better, they probably don't eat as healthy or excercise as much as the West Coast.   But smokers are everywhere and the South rules when it comes to weather:  You can live in the mountains of NC,Tn etc, or enjoy the sunshine of Florida or get a bit of both in Georgia.  There are actually plenty of states in the South where a wonderful warm atmosphere welcome you year round.  I have lived in all regions of this country and find the people in the south the friendliest and I challenge anyone to state otherwise.

Home is what you make of it.  I'm like a couple of other people who have posted.  Happiness is being content-not satisfied, but content.