March 21, 2025 • 41 mins
According to the 2025 World Happiness Record, published by the Wellbeing Research Centre at the University of Oxford, Finland is the happiest country in the world for a straight eighth year. The United States falls to its lowest-ever position in the happiness ranking at 24. Why do you think America isn’t higher up on the list? What are the contributing factors in society to happiness? What do you think we can we do in the U.S. to improve our "happiness"?
Listen to WBZ NewsRadio on the NEW iHeart Radio app and be sure to set WBZ NewsRadio as your #1 preset!
Listen to WBZ NewsRadio on the NEW iHeart Radio app and be sure to set WBZ NewsRadio as your #1 preset!
Mark as Played
Transcript
Episode Transcript
Available transcripts are automatically generated. Complete accuracy is not guaranteed.
Speaker 1 (00:00):
It's night Side with Dan Ray on WBSY Constance Radio.
Speaker 2 (00:07):
All right, thanks very much, Al Griffith. As we move
into the nine o'clock hour on a Friday night, and
we're gonna, you know, likeing up a little bit. I
think all of you know we do lighten up a
little bit on Friday night. We've had pretty busy week
this week, a lot of controversial topics as we often have.
And by the way, over the weekend, if you've missed
(00:30):
any of our hours this week, either the eight o'clock
hours Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday or Friday, had some interesting guests.
We always have interesting guests in that eight o'clock hour,
but we've had some interesting topics and guests in the nine,
the ten, and the eleven, and one of which was
(00:50):
the Israeli console General Benny SHARONI. We're gonna replay that
in best of night Side on Sunday night at eleven o'clock.
But you can literally go just go to Nightside on
demand and you can listen to whatever hour you might
have missed. I mean, I don't assume anyone other than
Rob and me listens to all twenty hours a week,
(01:14):
but this you might miss something that was of interest
to you, and you go back and you go look
at them and they'll tell you what the topics were.
And each of us have our own interest in areas.
I get people who will say to me, oh, I
wish you had this topic. Oh, they'll say to me,
why do you have so many of those topics? I
like this, not that. So it's tough. When you're a
(01:36):
talk show host. You want to please as many people
as possible, but in the audience, it's impossible to please everyone.
I think it was Franklin Roosevelt. You can please some
of the people some of the time, but you can't
please all of the people all of the time. And
that's true because no matter what topic we pick, there'll
(01:57):
be some who will say, why are you doing that topic?
Why aren't you talking about this topic. Someone was asking
me today, a good loyal listener of the program was
asking me why we haven't done anything on the JFK files.
And the reason we haven't done anything in the JFK
files is the release was delayed. We had a guest
lined up for two nights pretty much on hold. Tom Samiluk,
(02:18):
who you've heard before. But I want to know what's
in those files, because we obviously don't want to sit
here and just talk to you and say, well, there's
nothing that came out today. Are you surprised that nothing
came out today? We are more interested in saying, okay,
this was disclosed, A, B and C, and we get
an expert on like Tom Samilak, and what's the significance
(02:40):
of this disclosure or that disclosure. So that's what we
do sometimes. And I realized that many of you will
send me suggestions and we try we try to move
on as many of them as practical. Now, now, let's
let's move into this topic. This hour. Every year, for
the last few years, I don't even know, for how
(03:00):
many years, there's a group that takes it upon themselves
to announce what is the happiest country in the world. Now,
I don't know how. I don't know how it is
possible to actually make a determination and specific determination as
(03:25):
to what makes a group of people a nation happy.
We're not just talking about some people theoretically, and so
they have to They say that they interview, you know,
tens of thousands of people and they have some theories.
(03:46):
But look, I'm sure some of you know so I'm
not going to tease you, but I will tell you
that the US is not in the top twenty of
the happiest countries in the world. We are twenty four,
and our number has been dropping over time. Now I'd
(04:11):
love to hear from you on this one and the
reason I would like to hear from you is you
should see the countries that are listed before us. And
I just I mean, I just think that it is.
You know, probably sometime this weekend, you're going to run
into someone, or you're going to be at a party
(04:31):
somewhere in the next couple of weeks and someone's going
to say, oh, well, you know, we're not a happy country. Look,
I can't think of any country in the world that
has as many creature comforts as we have. There are
countries in the world that don't have running water, they
don't have indoor plumbing. There are countries in the world
(04:53):
where the temperatures are such but are so hot but
there's no air conditioning. And there are countries in the
world that are very, very cold for a good portion
of the world and they don't have the heating that
we have. I think, and you probably agree with me,
(05:14):
but if you don't. That's okay. I mean, I think
that we have the greatest country in the world, and
on a whole lot of levels, the idea of freedom,
the idea of economic mobility. We have more entertainment options
if you're somebody who enjoys going to the theater, if
you're someone who enjoys public libraries. There's not a community
(05:37):
in America that doesn't have a public library. I know
that sometimes there's a controversy about a public library, but
that's fine. That's what we're all about. We have resorts
for people either who are very wealthy or people who
can save up, and maybe not every year, but every
couple of years take a ski vacation or go to
(05:58):
Florida in the winter time. We have automobiles which get
us from place to place. There are people in the
world who never venture more than twenty miles from where
they're born. Think about it, if you're born somewhere in Siberia,
how much travel do you think you do? So I
just think that we take it so for granted. And
if you're familiar with this, the top five countries in
(06:24):
the world, according to this group, and by the way,
several organizations conduct this report, okay, from most to least
and overall happiness. Last year. This according to a USA
Today article that I'm reading. Last year, the US fell
out of the top twenty for the first time in
the report's history, landing at number twenty three. The twenty
(06:46):
five report published yesterday shows Americans dropping another level, down
to twenty twenty four. So here are some of the
countries that this group of Internet national scholars or international
polsters or whatever. They are Finland, Denmark, Iceland, and Sweden. Yeah,
(07:11):
socialist countries in northern Europe. Netherlands is five. Costa Rica,
which I'm told is a pretty nice country, but I
don't know. It's the United States. There's Norway. Israel is
number eight. Tell you Israel is in the middle of
a war, and it's been in the middle of a war.
I don't know how happy people can be in Israel
(07:33):
at this point. I mean, there's a lot of countries
that would like to see them damaged. Luxembourg. Then here's
number ten. Mexico. Ever been in Mexico?
Speaker 3 (07:46):
I have.
Speaker 2 (07:48):
Now again, with all due respect to our knights that
investor in Mexico, Groroto, Portillo. There are some nice places
in Mexico if you go to some of the resorts
in Cancun or on the other side of on the
Pacific side. But there's a lot of poverty in Mexico,
(08:10):
a lot of poverty. Australia, New Zealand, Switzerland and Belgium
again you know, Ireland, Lithuania, Austria, Canada, Slovenia, Czechia, Uh
not not yeah, Chechia. I assume that's what used to
(08:30):
be part of Czechoslovakia. United Arab Emirates, Okay, Germany, United Kingdom.
And we're number four, we're twenty fourth the company that
is right behind us, and there are others. They're there there.
There are countries that have improved their happiness, that are
(08:52):
that are continuing their upward trends or Lithuania, Slovenia and Cheschia.
Three nations have improved their happiness, Serbia, Bulgaria, Georgia must
be a ball to live in Bulgaria. Huh, think about that.
What increases happiness in countries? We'll get into some of this.
(09:15):
How do Happiness report researchers measure happiness? That got a
good question, Okay. They gather responses from one hundred thousand
people from all over the world. And then what factors
impact happiness? Social support best predictor of happiness. We'll get
to all of that, I promise, But I want to
hear from you and again, are you happy with the
(09:38):
country where you live? Now? I know that there have
been a couple of high profile people who have left
the country, the couple of the comedians have decided to
leave the country. That's all related to Trump's selection. But
let's talk. I want to know from you. How happy
are you living here? Is there another country in the
(10:01):
world that you would want to live in? I can't
think of any that I would prefer. Oh, this country
is I'd like to visit, but none that I want
to live in. Let's have at it here, because I
just think that the world doesn't appreciate the United States
of America. They don't appreciate the freedoms we have. Now. Again,
(10:21):
I'm not looking to do a cheerleaning hour here, but
if I have to, I will. More importantly, I want
to hear from you. If you think I'm right, back
me up. If you think I'm wrong, throw me under
the bus six one seven, two, five, four ten thirty
six one seven nine three one ten thirty happiness. How
happy are you living in America? And I know, Look,
if you have a billion dollars, you're probably pretty happy,
(10:44):
although people who have a billion dollars can also be
inherently unhappy. I just want to know from my listeners,
is there any other country in the world you would
prefer to live in? I doubt that. Coming back on Nightside.
Speaker 1 (11:00):
After Dan Ray Live from the Window World night Side
Studios on WBZ News Radio.
Speaker 2 (11:07):
Happiness Happiness according to the World Happiness Report, and I'll
get to call as quickly. What factors impact happiness? Social
support best predictor of happiness. If you feel like you
have at least one person that you can reach out
to when they're in need, you're more likely to feel secure. Okay,
maybe we could do better in that GDP per capita.
(11:29):
Nobody beats us on that. This is how much a
country produce is divided by its population. A healthy life
expectancy researchers look at the physical and mental health of
a country's population. I think we got a pretty good
healthy life expectancy here. Freedom to make life choices, I
think we have that in America. Generosity This factor looks
(11:50):
at how charitable country's people are We are the most
charitable people in the world, either through our own charitable
contributions or the contributions that our country makes to other
countries around the world, whether it's in the form of
just dollars that we contribute to other countries or support
(12:13):
for their freedoms. Perception of corruption. How corrupt are country's
government and business policies? Some here in America think that
there's corruption. I think that's way overstated. This factor looks
at both and researchers use what they find to estimate
happiness levels. We'll go over those again, but again my
(12:34):
question to you is, and it's really specific, how happy
are you? And I realized that there are people out
there tonight who are dealing with sickness and family so
it's difficult to overcome. That can be overwhelming. But how
happy are you to live in America? And is there
anywhere else in the world that you would want to live,
(12:55):
not visit, but live. Let me go to my friend
Jack and Newton. Jack going to get us go in here.
Thanks very much for calling in. How are you tonight? Jack?
Speaker 3 (13:03):
Yeah, I'm okay. As you know, I'm a I'm Jack Porter,
I'm a sociologist, and I mentioned your name in a
review I did of a book like Suicide by mL
Dirt time I mentioned your name that we talked about that,
and I'll send you that. Dirkan describes anno me, which
(13:27):
is what describes us as a lack of normalousness, lack
of moral standards, that shared standards. I'm not going to
get into the political I'm talking about. The family is
not as strong the example I have to make an
appointment to see my granddaughter. In other countries or in
other subcultures in this country, like Italian groups or others,
(13:49):
we all come together for things were we got to
make an appointment, to make an appointment because all of
us are in our own little circles. And that's I
think the definition of unhappiness, of normallessness is that's why
this is not a happy country.
Speaker 2 (14:10):
Okay, so let me ask you that. Let me ask
you this, Jack, you know, putting politics aside for a second,
I know that right now, Yeah, yeah, yeah, No, I'm
just saying I know that the mag of people, those
who supported Donald Trump are very happy with the result
of the election. I know they were very angry with
the result of election in twenty twenty, the Democrats were thrilled.
I remember people dancing in the street when Joe Biden
(14:32):
was elected in twenty twenty. And he was elected in
twenty twenty, and they are The Democrats at this point
seem to be without you know, focus, They seem to
be a disarray. They're not happy. I get that, but
that's not what we're talking about. Because in America, at
least during my lifetime, and I think also during your lifetimes,
(14:52):
there was either a president who was a Democrat or
a Republican. Congress was either Democrat or Republican. We're not
a multi party country like Britain or the Israel or
other great democracies. But just putting aside the politics for
a moment, is there you.
Speaker 3 (15:11):
I don't want to talk about politics, That's what I'm saying.
Speaker 2 (15:13):
I'm just I'm making it clear to the audience. My
question to you, Jack is this, And you're a thoughtful guy,
uh is there any country in the world where you
think you would be more happy than America?
Speaker 3 (15:25):
Yeah? I'll be honestly. I actually Israel a lot of people.
I was there nine months ago, and people are happy
to be alive. They are in the restaurants. They are
having birthdays, they are having parties in restaurants. Families get
together in restaurants. There. You feel like you're you're fighting
for something together. There's a togetherness there. It's a mistake
(15:49):
to think that, oh, they're all worried about war all
the time. I'm not going to get into politics. Yeah
that's on hising th was number eight, you know. And
I've been through Iceland and I've been to Norway. People
working together there. They don't have the we are so divided.
I'm not talking politically. Like I said, I got to
(16:09):
make an appointment. I can't stop by like in the
old days. Oh, let's let's meet on the porch and
have a cup of coffee. We can't do that in Newton.
You can't do that. I've got to make an appointment that.
Speaker 2 (16:22):
By the way, I don't know that Iceland. Oh, Iceland
is number three. Yeah, Iceland's a happy country. Reykiavik Okay.
But what I'm saying to you is is that endemic
of your circle of friends or or even more more,
even worse, your family. I mean, I you know, if
if we're going to go visit our grandson, we certainly
(16:45):
don't just show up at the door unannounced. But I don't.
I don't.
Speaker 3 (16:49):
In other fields and I one you can do it,
and other in Israel you can do it. In other
places you can do it. It's different here, Dan.
Speaker 2 (16:58):
Let me explain it. Let me explained to you, and
then you can shoot it down. You're the sociologist. I'm
not the sociologist. Our family lives fifty cho My son
and his wife and our grandson live about fifteen miles
from where we are, so I'm not going to just
jump in the car. It's not like the old days
where people lived in a three deck or and your
(17:21):
son and his wife lived on the second floor, and
your daughter and her husband lived on the third floor,
and your own parents live two houses away in the
west end of what you know, you know how it
used to be. But I would always say, hey, would
like to come out this afternoon, you guys going to
be around. I don't want to drive out there and
find that they have that they have taken off and
(17:41):
gone shopping or gone visit with their friends. You've got
to coordinate schedules. That doesn't want me.
Speaker 3 (17:47):
I agree, I agree with you. Look at my former
wife takes care of my our granddaughter. When my daughter
is working and she stays over, and I think you've
got to, you know, make an appointment.
Speaker 2 (18:00):
We've it's not like well, I don't think it's like
making an apployment. I think it's a craze.
Speaker 3 (18:06):
With that thing where you've lost something in this country.
I'm not happy in America. I'm not happy in Newton.
I wish I could be in a in Israel or
some other smaller town. But it may I may not
even be happy in a small town, you know, because
I like Newton. I like a big towny.
Speaker 2 (18:24):
Holy, you're being inconsistent. You're telling me you like Newton,
but you're not happy in Newton. You can't.
Speaker 3 (18:29):
I kind of unhappy in Newton. I'll tell you why.
It's not Milwaukee, where I grew up. It's not Milwaukee.
Milwaukee is Midwestern. It's so much friendlier, people are smiling.
Speaker 2 (18:41):
I don't.
Speaker 3 (18:41):
I hate Newton, and I've lived here for forty five
years and I don't like it.
Speaker 2 (18:46):
Okay, so let me ask you this. Okay, here's my question.
I know you well enough so I can ask you
this question and you won't be insulted. If you're not
happy here. What's stopping you from saying I'm going to
go back back to Milwaukee. Milwaukee was an area that
I was comfortable with. What have you have you thought
about trying that?
Speaker 3 (19:06):
That's a very good question. I'll tell you why. Like
what was that that writer Will said? You can't go
home anymore? You're right, Milwaukee has changed. My friends have
died off, my family is no longer there, and it's
it's not an exciting town. I have to give up something.
I like the excitement of Boston, the challenge of Boston,
(19:28):
even though people you I don't want to go back
to a boring Milwaukee town.
Speaker 2 (19:33):
Okay, well just say it is. You know you're close
to Boston. Uh, you're close to I know you're an academic,
You've taught at different schools. I would assume if someone
had said to me, is Jack going to be happy?
You know it's not perfect. I know you well enough
to know that we have disagreements and we're friends. We
had conversations. But I'm stunned that you're that you would
(19:54):
categorize yourself as being unhappy. So therefore, you, as a sociologist,
see the United States as being number twenty four is
about where you think it should be.
Speaker 3 (20:04):
As I think we set aside some time for the
Lord on a Sunday. You don't have to work every day.
How about Sunday morning, go to church, be with your family,
have certain standards, some norms, do something together. You know.
Speaker 2 (20:18):
Let me tell you something. I think that you're right,
and I think that one of the things that I notice.
And you know, you know, I'm Catholic, I'm not Jewish,
you're Jewish. I have great admiration. I see the Jewish families,
young Jewish families on Saturdays going to temple or coming
home from temple. I'm driving to the gym or coming
(20:38):
home from the gym, and there there's a there's something
in religion that is that does talk to community, and
we've lost that in the Catholic Church, in large part
because of the pedophile priest scandal. As I'm sure you know,
I still go to church, but they don't go with
my family because I'm the only one that's still close
(21:00):
to church in my family.
Speaker 3 (21:01):
So I mean, you got to go together with the
whole family, And you're right. I go myself too. My family.
Young people don't want to go to church. They don't
want to go to Senegague.
Speaker 2 (21:12):
You're right, there are other parts of the country where
religion is more acceptable, and I think that there may
be there's a level of comfort in that.
Speaker 4 (21:21):
Uh.
Speaker 2 (21:21):
The idea of taking an hour a week and just saying, Okay,
I'm going to focus on what blessings I have. Yeah, Jack,
you and I are are a lot closer than you
that maybe you realize philosophically.
Speaker 5 (21:35):
Trust me, I.
Speaker 3 (21:37):
Think we are. And we come from a generation that
really understood what community and family ment. And it's all
breaking down and we got to change.
Speaker 2 (21:45):
Hey, Jack, I'm three minutes into my newscast and if
I don't move here, I'm going to be in big trouble.
Great call to start us off, Jack, Thank you so much,
appreciate it. That was a great call. If you'd like
to comment on what you're hearing. We're going to change
topics at ten o'clock. I told you that the other night,
(22:05):
and everybody starts calling it five or ten. Okay, we
have a guest coming in at uh. We will be
talking with a guest at ten o'clock. I want to know,
are you happy? What can make you happier? I think
is there any country in the world that you would
prefer to live in in the United States than the
United States. And I mean that's assume you can get
a job and all of that. Six one, seven, two, five,
(22:27):
four ten thirty six one seven, nine, three, one ten thirty.
Let's light these lines up. I think Jack has opened
up in several areas of conversation that some of you
should be able to react to. Coming back on Nightside and.
Speaker 1 (22:41):
You're on the night Side with Dan Ray on WBZY,
Boston's news radio.
Speaker 2 (22:48):
Back to the phones we go. Let me go to
Joe and acting Joe, you are next on Nightside. Welcome Joe.
How are you tonight?
Speaker 4 (22:55):
Yeah? I had a lot to say a couple of
nights ago. I just want to say something quick. You
may get a kick out of it.
Speaker 2 (23:01):
Yeah, go ahead, sure, yeah.
Speaker 4 (23:02):
I well, you know, I've lived all over the world
and all over the country. Of course, I love Boston.
I don't like the politicians, but I love Boston. But
I have hated Milwaukee ever since the Braves left us
in nineteen fifty three.
Speaker 2 (23:19):
Just want to say that, Okay, we got that in,
we got that in, But where would you would you
ever think of living in another country.
Speaker 4 (23:28):
I did. I lived in twos oh.
Speaker 2 (23:30):
I know. I say, there's a difference between being in
a you know, being a good business man, remember the military,
for that matter, being a professional athlete who's playing hockey
in Russia. I'm saying, would you ever want to leave
this country?
Speaker 4 (23:50):
I never did want to leave the country, but I
had to leave the only way I could get a
job when Nixon, you know, when we had that disaster
in the nearly seventies, was to leave the country.
Speaker 2 (24:02):
So well, what I'm trying to say is, Rosie.
Speaker 4 (24:04):
I wouldn't otherwise.
Speaker 2 (24:06):
No, no, no, Rosie O'Donnell has left the country for
political reasons. It's also for her publicity reasons. I'm sure
that she believes that by leaving the country and going
to Ireland, Rosie O'Donnell is going to rebuild her fan base,
which I think has disappeared. But in terms of you know, yeah,
(24:26):
times times have been tough at different times in this country.
We had a depression, we've had recessions, or we've had wars.
I get it. I mean there were a lot of
people who dured the Vietnam War, decided to leave the
country because they didn't want to be in the military
in any form or fashion. Okay, but I'm talking about
it just regularly. And there are people who have left
(24:48):
the country. There are expats that people who leave America
whatever for whatever reason, they had a bad marriage and
they just want to get as far away as possible.
But you know, look, is there any country I've visited?
I don't know, probably thirty countries. I've never really counted up.
I know it's around thirty and uh including you know,
(25:11):
going to some you know places in the Caribbean which
are small countries. But the poverty that exists in other countries,
I mean, forget the fact that I probably wouldn't be
able to learn the language to do what I do,
which is I couldn't be a talk show host in
Italy or a talk show host in Hungary. I was
fascinated by Hungary. But but I just don't understand why
(25:33):
people think that we're not blessed to be in the
United States of America. I mean, countries in the world
no indoor plumbing. You know, if you're if you're in
some countries in Africa and you want to go to
the bathroom at night, you got to go out and
hope that mister.
Speaker 4 (25:49):
In France when I lived there.
Speaker 2 (25:51):
Well, you know what, some of these you've got to
go out and you've got to make sure that mister
Lyon and mister Tiger isn't isn't taking a walk through
the backyard. Absolutely crazy, It's crazy.
Speaker 4 (26:00):
So no, I wouldn't leave that. I never wanted to leave.
I never wanted to leave Boston. But I left Boston
to go other places to go to school. They left
the country because they couldn't get a good job.
Speaker 2 (26:15):
That's all I'm trying to I've been trying to ask
you this question, so just bear with me for a second.
Speaker 4 (26:19):
Yeah, I'm trying to answer.
Speaker 2 (26:21):
Yeah, where did you go? What country did you go to?
For how long? And what job were you able to get?
Speaker 4 (26:29):
I went to Germany for a temporary job teaching, and
I but I stayed. I was only going to stay
two years. But I met a law student and we
got engaged, and then I tried to study law for
a while. Then we broke up, and then I was
(26:51):
in France for a while, and then finally I came
back and I was able to get the job teaching
at Ohio State. Did you once I came once I
ended up in Columbus.
Speaker 2 (27:02):
So it doesn't hear me, Rob Joe, I got a question.
I've asked it twice. I don't think you're hearing me.
What did you teach in Germany?
Speaker 4 (27:14):
I taught math?
Speaker 2 (27:16):
Math? And then what did you teach at Ohio State Math?
In Columbus?
Speaker 4 (27:22):
Math?
Speaker 2 (27:23):
Math? Okay, so you were a math teacher who couldn't
get a job and you went to Germany. How long
were you away from the country? How many years between?
Speaker 4 (27:32):
It was away from the country essentially till nineteen seventy.
Speaker 2 (27:36):
Seven, seven years, So you were away six or seven years.
Speaker 4 (27:40):
Yeah, before I was domiciled here. I mean I have trips.
I could make trips back and stuff, but I was
working getting a paycheck from European countries.
Speaker 2 (27:50):
How tough was it? How were you able to get
a job teaching math in Germany?
Speaker 4 (27:55):
Well, it was a strange thing.
Speaker 2 (27:58):
Did you speak German?
Speaker 4 (28:01):
I had taken two years in high school, but I'd
forgotten everything. But when I went to Germany, I did
something that not many people do. I decided I would
only speak German with people and try to avoid because
everybody speaks English. And I picked it up and spoke fluently.
Speaker 2 (28:23):
Good for you, good and of course for you. How
old are How old were you when you left?
Speaker 3 (28:27):
You?
Speaker 2 (28:28):
Were you right out of college?
Speaker 1 (28:30):
No?
Speaker 4 (28:30):
I left three quarters of the way through graduate school,
and then I finished my studies at a distance from
the school I went to and continue teaching, and I
only originally wanted to go a couple of years.
Speaker 2 (28:45):
But when did you retire, Joe? When did you retire?
Speaker 4 (28:48):
Well? I retired nine in just twenty seventeen.
Speaker 2 (28:54):
And what was your last teaching position?
Speaker 4 (28:56):
I was a professor at I don't want to say
the place because people are going to be able to
identify me. I was a professor at a public university
in New England.
Speaker 2 (29:07):
Fair enough, well that that brings it out at about six.
I got you, I got youa Joe enjoyed the conversation
as always, Thank you much, Okay, thanks to you, little boy.
All Right, we'll be back sometimes. Folks. I'm trying to
you know, you're telling me you're going to Germany or whatever,
and I'm trying to figure out, well, how when were
you there? How long were you doing? What were you
(29:27):
doing there? That's what's got conversation is about. So anyway,
Maureen is next then we have eddin Wooster and I
got a little bit of room for you. We will
change topics at ten o'clock. I had a guest coming in.
We're going to talk to a restaurant expert, hidden restaurants
in Boston, some great restaurants. We'll have some fun, and
then later on tonight we'll do a twentieth hour. But
(29:49):
right now, would you want to live anywhere other than
the United States of America. I don't want to sound like,
you know, mister cheerleader for America, for the United States
of America, But I can't imagine one visiting other countries.
But I kind of imagine going away, unless it's like
Rosie O'Donnell, who's a little messed up. Anyway, we'll be
back on night Side right after this.
Speaker 1 (30:10):
Now back to Dan Ray live from the Window World
Nightside Studios on WBZ News Radio.
Speaker 2 (30:18):
All right, we got full lines. Let's go, Come on,
let's go. Maureen in Brockton, Maureen, I think I know
you pretty well. I'm thinking you're going to be pretty
close to me on this issue.
Speaker 6 (30:29):
Yes, one hundred and there is no other country I
would want to permanently live. I do have a sister
Dan who I want to say five years roughly ago.
She she was living in Massachusetts and she had she
(30:49):
went to UMSS Boston and one year she had a
semester in Dublin and a semester in Belfast. And we
have family, We have family in Ireland. My sister decided
without a job, without a place to live, and she
she now fully one, lives in full time. She lives
in Ireland and that's totally her thing.
Speaker 5 (31:11):
Me no, me, no, I'm no where.
Speaker 2 (31:13):
About I know Ireland pretty well. Whereabouts does she live?
Speaker 6 (31:18):
My father's family is on the UH. It's it's near.
Speaker 1 (31:23):
Galway to the west coast.
Speaker 2 (31:25):
Yeah, okay, and there's a lot of American companies that
are over there in Ireland. She does she work for
an American company?
Speaker 6 (31:35):
No, she actually it's funny because she she just read, well,
she was working for an Irish company up to about
almost two years ago. What she's doing now is she's
actually working for UH, a former bus when she was
in Massachusetts. So she's working for this woman that lives
(31:56):
in Massachusetts.
Speaker 2 (31:57):
But very cool. Does she does? She have her Irish
citizen and ship? I hope as well.
Speaker 6 (32:03):
Well, I think so she's got well, because our father
was born in Ireland, so you're all I know she's got.
Is it the same? She's got the Irish passport, so
I don't know if that is.
Speaker 2 (32:14):
That the pah. Yeah, if you have an Irish passport,
you got to be an Irish citizen. I have the
Irish passport too, so I know I can trust me.
You should get the Irish citizenship too, by the way, Marine, Okay, if.
Speaker 6 (32:25):
Your dad was born there, yeah, no, I just you know,
like I said I I years ago, I you know,
was lucky enough to do traveling, mostly to England and
Ireland because we have family. But no, there were so
many there were so many things about living.
Speaker 2 (32:41):
You know.
Speaker 6 (32:42):
I'm grateful that you know the choices I can make it.
I don't have to you know, I don't have to
get government approval that I can do, you know, X,
Y and Z for the most.
Speaker 2 (32:53):
Part, exactly, Maureen. I love your calls, one of my
best callers. Thank you so much. Always great to hear
your voice. Best of Like to you this weekend. Have
a great weekend and say hey, did Jack for me?
Speaker 7 (33:04):
Okay he shows back.
Speaker 6 (33:05):
Thanks, have a great night.
Speaker 2 (33:07):
He takes you have a great night. Let's keep it rolling.
He're gonna go to Ed in Worcester. Ed is an
old friend as well.
Speaker 4 (33:13):
Ed.
Speaker 2 (33:13):
How are you tonight?
Speaker 5 (33:15):
I'm good?
Speaker 2 (33:15):
How are you doing great?
Speaker 1 (33:17):
So?
Speaker 2 (33:18):
Am I right or wrong? You want to back me
up or throw me under the bus?
Speaker 5 (33:22):
Well, I'm going to disagree with Elan Maureen and probably
line up a little more with Jack. We don't look
we materially we have everything you could possibly want. And
as she was saying a moment ago, we have all
these options. But what we don't have is any kind
of like underlying community of identification or principles or values anymore.
(33:45):
And I think people recognize that, and I think they
find it very, very unsatisfying. Okay, so how do we
get that back in the country? There's nothing uniting us anymore.
Speaker 2 (33:54):
Okay, But how do we get that back? Do we
wait until the next time?
Speaker 5 (33:57):
I think it's gone. I think it's gone. I think
we would be I know I've said this on your
show at least once before, but I'm actually to the
point where I think we would be better off. I
don't expect this is going to happen soon, but it
may happen eventually. I think we would be better off
splitting up into two different countries, splitting up the territory
and splitting up the assets and liabilities, and we we'll
(34:21):
just go our separate ways. Because are you going to
do that?
Speaker 2 (34:23):
How are you going to do that?
Speaker 5 (34:24):
I mean, India and Pakistan and Bangladesh did it. They
used to be one country. Canada came within a hair
in the nineteen nineties of splitting up into two different
countries from Quebec.
Speaker 2 (34:36):
I don't think.
Speaker 5 (34:36):
And the thing is, we're already we're already separating. We're
people are already self segregating. They're already moving towards areas
where there are people who think the way they do already.
Speaker 2 (34:48):
But here's my question. Here's my question. You know, back
in the Civil War, it was the North against the South. Now,
I'm sure that there were Northerners who had sympathies for
the South advice ver. But you have we have two
coasts that are similar California similar to Massachusetts, New York, Maryland,
(35:08):
et cetera. And then you have the Midwest and the
Plain States and the rocky mountain states. In the South,
you'd almost have to have to have three countries like
the East coast, the West coast, and the rest of
the country.
Speaker 5 (35:21):
I don't think not today with airline travel today. And
the thing is, the people who live in the so
called Blue States, Yeah, they don't want to go to
the Red States anyway. They disparagingly call it flyover country.
They're proud of the fact they don't want to go there.
Speaker 2 (35:36):
All right, all right, well, maybe maybe we should do it.
Find me some thinker or some author who's written a
book about the dissolusion, dissolution, and and we'll get somebody.
Speaker 5 (35:50):
We'll tell you on the political right that is becoming
increasingly a subject of discussion and something that a lot
of people are thinking would make a lot of sense.
And I certainly think it would.
Speaker 2 (36:02):
Yeah, I am to the right of center, but I'm
not that far right, that's for sure. I have I
have too many liberal friends. I don't want to I
don't want to divorce.
Speaker 5 (36:10):
You can go visit them. You could go visit them
in the other country if you wanted to.
Speaker 2 (36:15):
Yeah, you know, I wish you is.
Speaker 5 (36:21):
We can't allow people from the Blue America to come
into the Red America and buy up property and vote,
because that's what they will do. They will screw up
their half of it, and then they will try to
move into our half of it and mess that up,
so we can't.
Speaker 2 (36:36):
Allow all right, all right, I gotta get to two
other quick callers before I'm done. Hey, that was a
great call. Kept call back early some night and we'll
follow up on it. Okay, thank you, good night, Michael
and Maine. Michael, I want to get you and I
want to get Scott from Hansen and go ahead, Michael,
Thank you, my friend.
Speaker 5 (36:55):
Hey, I was gonna move to Ireland until I found
out Rosie O'donnever.
Speaker 2 (37:00):
I am going the shot one now.
Speaker 5 (37:04):
I'll let you go. Dan, you have a good weekend,
my friend.
Speaker 2 (37:06):
That's a great line. I love it. Thanks, Mike, appreciate it.
Speaker 6 (37:10):
You.
Speaker 2 (37:11):
I love calls like that, quick to the point. I
love it. Thanks, Thanks very much, Scott and Hanson. Scott,
gonna wrap the hour with you. God heead Scott.
Speaker 7 (37:21):
Hey, Dan, thanks for having me. Yeah, I guess I
would have to somewhat agree with what Edit said. And
I love where I live. I live in Massachusetts here
my whole life. I love the country. But it's really
disheartening like this sort of divided political environment, and you know,
it doesn't seem you know, I'm hoping maybe in the
(37:42):
next election somebody can come in to sort of get
us back to a normal you know. You know, both
sides are so far apart.
Speaker 2 (37:52):
Want to make a suggestion here and maybe start a campaign?
Who would you like? Who would you like?
Speaker 7 (37:58):
I don't really have a candidate. I guess it's just
I have, you know, and I think a lot of
people are just disgusted with the Okay, so let me
ask you, Okay, let.
Speaker 2 (38:08):
Me ask you this. If you could resurrect a a
long since past president, who would you like?
Speaker 7 (38:17):
You know, I liked Reagan a lot. I didn't like
Obama when he was there, but he is a person
I thought would be more qualified to unite people. I'm
kind of I'm kind of a right leaning type of
a person. I agree with a lot of Trump's policies,
(38:37):
but I feel like the guy is a total buffoon.
I agree with the look that Doge is doing, but
you know, the you know, Elon with the chainsaw wasn't
a good look.
Speaker 2 (38:49):
Not at all. You know, very whose idea? Whose idea
was that?
Speaker 4 (38:55):
Yeah?
Speaker 7 (38:55):
I mean, I mean I think it was. It makes
sense to take a fresh look at how we spend
their money. I don't have issue with that, yep, But
when you look at it, like you know, people on
the left, you can't even have that conversation, you know, like, oh,
you're you're you know, picked the edgic, you know, you're
your whatever. If you even want to have that conversation.
Speaker 2 (39:17):
You're a nasty word. You're a nasty word. Hey, this
was a good hour.
Speaker 7 (39:21):
My oldest daughter, My oldest daughter moved to London. She's
been there five or six years now, and it was
really about that. She just doesn't the political environment. You
just can't stand the way it is. And it's too bad,
it really is. I mean, I'm hoping the country could
come back to a normal people being civil to each other,
(39:41):
people working on issues together.
Speaker 3 (39:43):
You know.
Speaker 2 (39:45):
Okay, quick question, if you could switch Vance and Trump today,
what do you think about Vance?
Speaker 7 (39:53):
You know, it's kind of ironic. You know a couple
of things about them. You know, when I first watched
and his first sort of roll where I.
Speaker 2 (40:03):
Really you got you gotta be quick. I'm literally up against.
Speaker 7 (40:06):
I thought, I thought ITAs some really stupid comments. I'm
a gun guy, I'm a hunter. My whole life. And
he talked about his nana having loaded guns all around
the house, and I'm thinking, what an irresponsible thing to say.
So that was my first impression of him, and fair enough.
Speaker 2 (40:21):
Okay, I gotta run, Scott, He'll do this to you.
But I could talk to you for another hour, but
I gotta guess coming up this. We had some excellent
calls this hour. I want to thank everyone, from Jack
and Joe and Maureen and Ed, Michael and yourself. This
was a really good hour. If it exceeded my expectations.
We'll do this again. Thanks, Thanks God, appreciate it. Have
(40:42):
a great weekend.
Speaker 3 (40:43):
You're too good.
Speaker 2 (40:45):
Nick. All right, we come back. We are going to
change topics and we're gonna get you some information on
restaurants in Boston. NBC ten food writer Mark Hurwitz is
going to join us tonight and talk about some of
the hidden gym restauran in Boston that you might not
know about. We'll be back right after the ten o'clock
news on Nightside
It's night Side with Dan Ray on WBSY Constance Radio.
Speaker 2 (00:07):
All right, thanks very much, Al Griffith. As we move
into the nine o'clock hour on a Friday night, and
we're gonna, you know, likeing up a little bit. I
think all of you know we do lighten up a
little bit on Friday night. We've had pretty busy week
this week, a lot of controversial topics as we often have.
And by the way, over the weekend, if you've missed
(00:30):
any of our hours this week, either the eight o'clock
hours Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday or Friday, had some interesting guests.
We always have interesting guests in that eight o'clock hour,
but we've had some interesting topics and guests in the nine,
the ten, and the eleven, and one of which was
(00:50):
the Israeli console General Benny SHARONI. We're gonna replay that
in best of night Side on Sunday night at eleven o'clock.
But you can literally go just go to Nightside on
demand and you can listen to whatever hour you might
have missed. I mean, I don't assume anyone other than
Rob and me listens to all twenty hours a week,
(01:14):
but this you might miss something that was of interest
to you, and you go back and you go look
at them and they'll tell you what the topics were.
And each of us have our own interest in areas.
I get people who will say to me, oh, I
wish you had this topic. Oh, they'll say to me,
why do you have so many of those topics? I
like this, not that. So it's tough. When you're a
(01:36):
talk show host. You want to please as many people
as possible, but in the audience, it's impossible to please everyone.
I think it was Franklin Roosevelt. You can please some
of the people some of the time, but you can't
please all of the people all of the time. And
that's true because no matter what topic we pick, there'll
(01:57):
be some who will say, why are you doing that topic?
Why aren't you talking about this topic. Someone was asking
me today, a good loyal listener of the program was
asking me why we haven't done anything on the JFK files.
And the reason we haven't done anything in the JFK
files is the release was delayed. We had a guest
lined up for two nights pretty much on hold. Tom Samiluk,
(02:18):
who you've heard before. But I want to know what's
in those files, because we obviously don't want to sit
here and just talk to you and say, well, there's
nothing that came out today. Are you surprised that nothing
came out today? We are more interested in saying, okay,
this was disclosed, A, B and C, and we get
an expert on like Tom Samilak, and what's the significance
(02:40):
of this disclosure or that disclosure. So that's what we
do sometimes. And I realized that many of you will
send me suggestions and we try we try to move
on as many of them as practical. Now, now, let's
let's move into this topic. This hour. Every year, for
the last few years, I don't even know, for how
(03:00):
many years, there's a group that takes it upon themselves
to announce what is the happiest country in the world. Now,
I don't know how. I don't know how it is
possible to actually make a determination and specific determination as
(03:25):
to what makes a group of people a nation happy.
We're not just talking about some people theoretically, and so
they have to They say that they interview, you know,
tens of thousands of people and they have some theories.
(03:46):
But look, I'm sure some of you know so I'm
not going to tease you, but I will tell you
that the US is not in the top twenty of
the happiest countries in the world. We are twenty four,
and our number has been dropping over time. Now I'd
(04:11):
love to hear from you on this one and the
reason I would like to hear from you is you
should see the countries that are listed before us. And
I just I mean, I just think that it is.
You know, probably sometime this weekend, you're going to run
into someone, or you're going to be at a party
(04:31):
somewhere in the next couple of weeks and someone's going
to say, oh, well, you know, we're not a happy country. Look,
I can't think of any country in the world that
has as many creature comforts as we have. There are
countries in the world that don't have running water, they
don't have indoor plumbing. There are countries in the world
(04:53):
where the temperatures are such but are so hot but
there's no air conditioning. And there are countries in the
world that are very, very cold for a good portion
of the world and they don't have the heating that
we have. I think, and you probably agree with me,
(05:14):
but if you don't. That's okay. I mean, I think
that we have the greatest country in the world, and
on a whole lot of levels, the idea of freedom,
the idea of economic mobility. We have more entertainment options
if you're somebody who enjoys going to the theater, if
you're someone who enjoys public libraries. There's not a community
(05:37):
in America that doesn't have a public library. I know
that sometimes there's a controversy about a public library, but
that's fine. That's what we're all about. We have resorts
for people either who are very wealthy or people who
can save up, and maybe not every year, but every
couple of years take a ski vacation or go to
(05:58):
Florida in the winter time. We have automobiles which get
us from place to place. There are people in the
world who never venture more than twenty miles from where
they're born. Think about it, if you're born somewhere in Siberia,
how much travel do you think you do? So I
just think that we take it so for granted. And
if you're familiar with this, the top five countries in
(06:24):
the world, according to this group, and by the way,
several organizations conduct this report, okay, from most to least
and overall happiness. Last year. This according to a USA
Today article that I'm reading. Last year, the US fell
out of the top twenty for the first time in
the report's history, landing at number twenty three. The twenty
(06:46):
five report published yesterday shows Americans dropping another level, down
to twenty twenty four. So here are some of the
countries that this group of Internet national scholars or international
polsters or whatever. They are Finland, Denmark, Iceland, and Sweden. Yeah,
(07:11):
socialist countries in northern Europe. Netherlands is five. Costa Rica,
which I'm told is a pretty nice country, but I
don't know. It's the United States. There's Norway. Israel is
number eight. Tell you Israel is in the middle of
a war, and it's been in the middle of a war.
I don't know how happy people can be in Israel
(07:33):
at this point. I mean, there's a lot of countries
that would like to see them damaged. Luxembourg. Then here's
number ten. Mexico. Ever been in Mexico?
Speaker 3 (07:46):
I have.
Speaker 2 (07:48):
Now again, with all due respect to our knights that
investor in Mexico, Groroto, Portillo. There are some nice places
in Mexico if you go to some of the resorts
in Cancun or on the other side of on the
Pacific side. But there's a lot of poverty in Mexico,
(08:10):
a lot of poverty. Australia, New Zealand, Switzerland and Belgium
again you know, Ireland, Lithuania, Austria, Canada, Slovenia, Czechia, Uh
not not yeah, Chechia. I assume that's what used to
(08:30):
be part of Czechoslovakia. United Arab Emirates, Okay, Germany, United Kingdom.
And we're number four, we're twenty fourth the company that
is right behind us, and there are others. They're there there.
There are countries that have improved their happiness, that are
(08:52):
that are continuing their upward trends or Lithuania, Slovenia and Cheschia.
Three nations have improved their happiness, Serbia, Bulgaria, Georgia must
be a ball to live in Bulgaria. Huh, think about that.
What increases happiness in countries? We'll get into some of this.
(09:15):
How do Happiness report researchers measure happiness? That got a
good question, Okay. They gather responses from one hundred thousand
people from all over the world. And then what factors
impact happiness? Social support best predictor of happiness. We'll get
to all of that, I promise, But I want to
hear from you and again, are you happy with the
(09:38):
country where you live? Now? I know that there have
been a couple of high profile people who have left
the country, the couple of the comedians have decided to
leave the country. That's all related to Trump's selection. But
let's talk. I want to know from you. How happy
are you living here? Is there another country in the
(10:01):
world that you would want to live in? I can't
think of any that I would prefer. Oh, this country
is I'd like to visit, but none that I want
to live in. Let's have at it here, because I
just think that the world doesn't appreciate the United States
of America. They don't appreciate the freedoms we have. Now. Again,
(10:21):
I'm not looking to do a cheerleaning hour here, but
if I have to, I will. More importantly, I want
to hear from you. If you think I'm right, back
me up. If you think I'm wrong, throw me under
the bus six one seven, two, five, four ten thirty
six one seven nine three one ten thirty happiness. How
happy are you living in America? And I know, Look,
if you have a billion dollars, you're probably pretty happy,
(10:44):
although people who have a billion dollars can also be
inherently unhappy. I just want to know from my listeners,
is there any other country in the world you would
prefer to live in? I doubt that. Coming back on Nightside.
Speaker 1 (11:00):
After Dan Ray Live from the Window World night Side
Studios on WBZ News Radio.
Speaker 2 (11:07):
Happiness Happiness according to the World Happiness Report, and I'll
get to call as quickly. What factors impact happiness? Social
support best predictor of happiness. If you feel like you
have at least one person that you can reach out
to when they're in need, you're more likely to feel secure. Okay,
maybe we could do better in that GDP per capita.
(11:29):
Nobody beats us on that. This is how much a
country produce is divided by its population. A healthy life
expectancy researchers look at the physical and mental health of
a country's population. I think we got a pretty good
healthy life expectancy here. Freedom to make life choices, I
think we have that in America. Generosity This factor looks
(11:50):
at how charitable country's people are We are the most
charitable people in the world, either through our own charitable
contributions or the contributions that our country makes to other
countries around the world, whether it's in the form of
just dollars that we contribute to other countries or support
(12:13):
for their freedoms. Perception of corruption. How corrupt are country's
government and business policies? Some here in America think that
there's corruption. I think that's way overstated. This factor looks
at both and researchers use what they find to estimate
happiness levels. We'll go over those again, but again my
(12:34):
question to you is, and it's really specific, how happy
are you? And I realized that there are people out
there tonight who are dealing with sickness and family so
it's difficult to overcome. That can be overwhelming. But how
happy are you to live in America? And is there
anywhere else in the world that you would want to live,
(12:55):
not visit, but live. Let me go to my friend
Jack and Newton. Jack going to get us go in here.
Thanks very much for calling in. How are you tonight? Jack?
Speaker 3 (13:03):
Yeah, I'm okay. As you know, I'm a I'm Jack Porter,
I'm a sociologist, and I mentioned your name in a
review I did of a book like Suicide by mL
Dirt time I mentioned your name that we talked about that,
and I'll send you that. Dirkan describes anno me, which
(13:27):
is what describes us as a lack of normalousness, lack
of moral standards, that shared standards. I'm not going to
get into the political I'm talking about. The family is
not as strong the example I have to make an
appointment to see my granddaughter. In other countries or in
other subcultures in this country, like Italian groups or others,
(13:49):
we all come together for things were we got to
make an appointment, to make an appointment because all of
us are in our own little circles. And that's I
think the definition of unhappiness, of normallessness is that's why
this is not a happy country.
Speaker 2 (14:10):
Okay, so let me ask you that. Let me ask
you this, Jack, you know, putting politics aside for a second,
I know that right now, Yeah, yeah, yeah, No, I'm
just saying I know that the mag of people, those
who supported Donald Trump are very happy with the result
of the election. I know they were very angry with
the result of election in twenty twenty, the Democrats were thrilled.
I remember people dancing in the street when Joe Biden
(14:32):
was elected in twenty twenty. And he was elected in
twenty twenty, and they are The Democrats at this point
seem to be without you know, focus, They seem to
be a disarray. They're not happy. I get that, but
that's not what we're talking about. Because in America, at
least during my lifetime, and I think also during your lifetimes,
(14:52):
there was either a president who was a Democrat or
a Republican. Congress was either Democrat or Republican. We're not
a multi party country like Britain or the Israel or
other great democracies. But just putting aside the politics for
a moment, is there you.
Speaker 3 (15:11):
I don't want to talk about politics, That's what I'm saying.
Speaker 2 (15:13):
I'm just I'm making it clear to the audience. My
question to you, Jack is this, And you're a thoughtful guy,
uh is there any country in the world where you
think you would be more happy than America?
Speaker 3 (15:25):
Yeah? I'll be honestly. I actually Israel a lot of people.
I was there nine months ago, and people are happy
to be alive. They are in the restaurants. They are
having birthdays, they are having parties in restaurants. Families get
together in restaurants. There. You feel like you're you're fighting
for something together. There's a togetherness there. It's a mistake
(15:49):
to think that, oh, they're all worried about war all
the time. I'm not going to get into politics. Yeah
that's on hising th was number eight, you know. And
I've been through Iceland and I've been to Norway. People
working together there. They don't have the we are so divided.
I'm not talking politically. Like I said, I got to
(16:09):
make an appointment. I can't stop by like in the
old days. Oh, let's let's meet on the porch and
have a cup of coffee. We can't do that in Newton.
You can't do that. I've got to make an appointment that.
Speaker 2 (16:22):
By the way, I don't know that Iceland. Oh, Iceland
is number three. Yeah, Iceland's a happy country. Reykiavik Okay.
But what I'm saying to you is is that endemic
of your circle of friends or or even more more,
even worse, your family. I mean, I you know, if
if we're going to go visit our grandson, we certainly
(16:45):
don't just show up at the door unannounced. But I don't.
I don't.
Speaker 3 (16:49):
In other fields and I one you can do it,
and other in Israel you can do it. In other
places you can do it. It's different here, Dan.
Speaker 2 (16:58):
Let me explain it. Let me explained to you, and
then you can shoot it down. You're the sociologist. I'm
not the sociologist. Our family lives fifty cho My son
and his wife and our grandson live about fifteen miles
from where we are, so I'm not going to just
jump in the car. It's not like the old days
where people lived in a three deck or and your
(17:21):
son and his wife lived on the second floor, and
your daughter and her husband lived on the third floor,
and your own parents live two houses away in the
west end of what you know, you know how it
used to be. But I would always say, hey, would
like to come out this afternoon, you guys going to
be around. I don't want to drive out there and
find that they have that they have taken off and
(17:41):
gone shopping or gone visit with their friends. You've got
to coordinate schedules. That doesn't want me.
Speaker 3 (17:47):
I agree, I agree with you. Look at my former
wife takes care of my our granddaughter. When my daughter
is working and she stays over, and I think you've
got to, you know, make an appointment.
Speaker 2 (18:00):
We've it's not like well, I don't think it's like
making an apployment. I think it's a craze.
Speaker 3 (18:06):
With that thing where you've lost something in this country.
I'm not happy in America. I'm not happy in Newton.
I wish I could be in a in Israel or
some other smaller town. But it may I may not
even be happy in a small town, you know, because
I like Newton. I like a big towny.
Speaker 2 (18:24):
Holy, you're being inconsistent. You're telling me you like Newton,
but you're not happy in Newton. You can't.
Speaker 3 (18:29):
I kind of unhappy in Newton. I'll tell you why.
It's not Milwaukee, where I grew up. It's not Milwaukee.
Milwaukee is Midwestern. It's so much friendlier, people are smiling.
Speaker 2 (18:41):
I don't.
Speaker 3 (18:41):
I hate Newton, and I've lived here for forty five
years and I don't like it.
Speaker 2 (18:46):
Okay, so let me ask you this. Okay, here's my question.
I know you well enough so I can ask you
this question and you won't be insulted. If you're not
happy here. What's stopping you from saying I'm going to
go back back to Milwaukee. Milwaukee was an area that
I was comfortable with. What have you have you thought
about trying that?
Speaker 3 (19:06):
That's a very good question. I'll tell you why. Like
what was that that writer Will said? You can't go
home anymore? You're right, Milwaukee has changed. My friends have
died off, my family is no longer there, and it's
it's not an exciting town. I have to give up something.
I like the excitement of Boston, the challenge of Boston,
(19:28):
even though people you I don't want to go back
to a boring Milwaukee town.
Speaker 2 (19:33):
Okay, well just say it is. You know you're close
to Boston. Uh, you're close to I know you're an academic,
You've taught at different schools. I would assume if someone
had said to me, is Jack going to be happy?
You know it's not perfect. I know you well enough
to know that we have disagreements and we're friends. We
had conversations. But I'm stunned that you're that you would
(19:54):
categorize yourself as being unhappy. So therefore, you, as a sociologist,
see the United States as being number twenty four is
about where you think it should be.
Speaker 3 (20:04):
As I think we set aside some time for the
Lord on a Sunday. You don't have to work every day.
How about Sunday morning, go to church, be with your family,
have certain standards, some norms, do something together. You know.
Speaker 2 (20:18):
Let me tell you something. I think that you're right,
and I think that one of the things that I notice.
And you know, you know, I'm Catholic, I'm not Jewish,
you're Jewish. I have great admiration. I see the Jewish families,
young Jewish families on Saturdays going to temple or coming
home from temple. I'm driving to the gym or coming
(20:38):
home from the gym, and there there's a there's something
in religion that is that does talk to community, and
we've lost that in the Catholic Church, in large part
because of the pedophile priest scandal. As I'm sure you know,
I still go to church, but they don't go with
my family because I'm the only one that's still close
(21:00):
to church in my family.
Speaker 3 (21:01):
So I mean, you got to go together with the
whole family, And you're right. I go myself too. My family.
Young people don't want to go to church. They don't
want to go to Senegague.
Speaker 2 (21:12):
You're right, there are other parts of the country where
religion is more acceptable, and I think that there may
be there's a level of comfort in that.
Speaker 4 (21:21):
Uh.
Speaker 2 (21:21):
The idea of taking an hour a week and just saying, Okay,
I'm going to focus on what blessings I have. Yeah, Jack,
you and I are are a lot closer than you
that maybe you realize philosophically.
Speaker 5 (21:35):
Trust me, I.
Speaker 3 (21:37):
Think we are. And we come from a generation that
really understood what community and family ment. And it's all
breaking down and we got to change.
Speaker 2 (21:45):
Hey, Jack, I'm three minutes into my newscast and if
I don't move here, I'm going to be in big trouble.
Great call to start us off, Jack, Thank you so much,
appreciate it. That was a great call. If you'd like
to comment on what you're hearing. We're going to change
topics at ten o'clock. I told you that the other night,
(22:05):
and everybody starts calling it five or ten. Okay, we
have a guest coming in at uh. We will be
talking with a guest at ten o'clock. I want to know,
are you happy? What can make you happier? I think
is there any country in the world that you would
prefer to live in in the United States than the
United States. And I mean that's assume you can get
a job and all of that. Six one, seven, two, five,
(22:27):
four ten thirty six one seven, nine, three, one ten thirty.
Let's light these lines up. I think Jack has opened
up in several areas of conversation that some of you
should be able to react to. Coming back on Nightside and.
Speaker 1 (22:41):
You're on the night Side with Dan Ray on WBZY,
Boston's news radio.
Speaker 2 (22:48):
Back to the phones we go. Let me go to
Joe and acting Joe, you are next on Nightside. Welcome Joe.
How are you tonight?
Speaker 4 (22:55):
Yeah? I had a lot to say a couple of
nights ago. I just want to say something quick. You
may get a kick out of it.
Speaker 2 (23:01):
Yeah, go ahead, sure, yeah.
Speaker 4 (23:02):
I well, you know, I've lived all over the world
and all over the country. Of course, I love Boston.
I don't like the politicians, but I love Boston. But
I have hated Milwaukee ever since the Braves left us
in nineteen fifty three.
Speaker 2 (23:19):
Just want to say that, Okay, we got that in,
we got that in, But where would you would you
ever think of living in another country.
Speaker 4 (23:28):
I did. I lived in twos oh.
Speaker 2 (23:30):
I know. I say, there's a difference between being in
a you know, being a good business man, remember the military,
for that matter, being a professional athlete who's playing hockey
in Russia. I'm saying, would you ever want to leave
this country?
Speaker 4 (23:50):
I never did want to leave the country, but I
had to leave the only way I could get a
job when Nixon, you know, when we had that disaster
in the nearly seventies, was to leave the country.
Speaker 2 (24:02):
So well, what I'm trying to say is, Rosie.
Speaker 4 (24:04):
I wouldn't otherwise.
Speaker 2 (24:06):
No, no, no, Rosie O'Donnell has left the country for
political reasons. It's also for her publicity reasons. I'm sure
that she believes that by leaving the country and going
to Ireland, Rosie O'Donnell is going to rebuild her fan base,
which I think has disappeared. But in terms of you know, yeah,
(24:26):
times times have been tough at different times in this country.
We had a depression, we've had recessions, or we've had wars.
I get it. I mean there were a lot of
people who dured the Vietnam War, decided to leave the
country because they didn't want to be in the military
in any form or fashion. Okay, but I'm talking about
it just regularly. And there are people who have left
(24:48):
the country. There are expats that people who leave America
whatever for whatever reason, they had a bad marriage and
they just want to get as far away as possible.
But you know, look, is there any country I've visited?
I don't know, probably thirty countries. I've never really counted up.
I know it's around thirty and uh including you know,
(25:11):
going to some you know places in the Caribbean which
are small countries. But the poverty that exists in other countries,
I mean, forget the fact that I probably wouldn't be
able to learn the language to do what I do,
which is I couldn't be a talk show host in
Italy or a talk show host in Hungary. I was
fascinated by Hungary. But but I just don't understand why
(25:33):
people think that we're not blessed to be in the
United States of America. I mean, countries in the world
no indoor plumbing. You know, if you're if you're in
some countries in Africa and you want to go to
the bathroom at night, you got to go out and
hope that mister.
Speaker 4 (25:49):
In France when I lived there.
Speaker 2 (25:51):
Well, you know what, some of these you've got to
go out and you've got to make sure that mister
Lyon and mister Tiger isn't isn't taking a walk through
the backyard. Absolutely crazy, It's crazy.
Speaker 4 (26:00):
So no, I wouldn't leave that. I never wanted to leave.
I never wanted to leave Boston. But I left Boston
to go other places to go to school. They left
the country because they couldn't get a good job.
Speaker 2 (26:15):
That's all I'm trying to I've been trying to ask
you this question, so just bear with me for a second.
Speaker 4 (26:19):
Yeah, I'm trying to answer.
Speaker 2 (26:21):
Yeah, where did you go? What country did you go to?
For how long? And what job were you able to get?
Speaker 4 (26:29):
I went to Germany for a temporary job teaching, and
I but I stayed. I was only going to stay
two years. But I met a law student and we
got engaged, and then I tried to study law for
a while. Then we broke up, and then I was
(26:51):
in France for a while, and then finally I came
back and I was able to get the job teaching
at Ohio State. Did you once I came once I
ended up in Columbus.
Speaker 2 (27:02):
So it doesn't hear me, Rob Joe, I got a question.
I've asked it twice. I don't think you're hearing me.
What did you teach in Germany?
Speaker 4 (27:14):
I taught math?
Speaker 2 (27:16):
Math? And then what did you teach at Ohio State Math?
In Columbus?
Speaker 4 (27:22):
Math?
Speaker 2 (27:23):
Math? Okay, so you were a math teacher who couldn't
get a job and you went to Germany. How long
were you away from the country? How many years between?
Speaker 4 (27:32):
It was away from the country essentially till nineteen seventy.
Speaker 2 (27:36):
Seven, seven years, So you were away six or seven years.
Speaker 4 (27:40):
Yeah, before I was domiciled here. I mean I have trips.
I could make trips back and stuff, but I was
working getting a paycheck from European countries.
Speaker 2 (27:50):
How tough was it? How were you able to get
a job teaching math in Germany?
Speaker 4 (27:55):
Well, it was a strange thing.
Speaker 2 (27:58):
Did you speak German?
Speaker 4 (28:01):
I had taken two years in high school, but I'd
forgotten everything. But when I went to Germany, I did
something that not many people do. I decided I would
only speak German with people and try to avoid because
everybody speaks English. And I picked it up and spoke fluently.
Speaker 2 (28:23):
Good for you, good and of course for you. How
old are How old were you when you left?
Speaker 3 (28:27):
You?
Speaker 2 (28:28):
Were you right out of college?
Speaker 1 (28:30):
No?
Speaker 4 (28:30):
I left three quarters of the way through graduate school,
and then I finished my studies at a distance from
the school I went to and continue teaching, and I
only originally wanted to go a couple of years.
Speaker 2 (28:45):
But when did you retire, Joe? When did you retire?
Speaker 4 (28:48):
Well? I retired nine in just twenty seventeen.
Speaker 2 (28:54):
And what was your last teaching position?
Speaker 4 (28:56):
I was a professor at I don't want to say
the place because people are going to be able to
identify me. I was a professor at a public university
in New England.
Speaker 2 (29:07):
Fair enough, well that that brings it out at about six.
I got you, I got youa Joe enjoyed the conversation
as always, Thank you much, Okay, thanks to you, little boy.
All Right, we'll be back sometimes. Folks. I'm trying to
you know, you're telling me you're going to Germany or whatever,
and I'm trying to figure out, well, how when were
you there? How long were you doing? What were you
(29:27):
doing there? That's what's got conversation is about. So anyway,
Maureen is next then we have eddin Wooster and I
got a little bit of room for you. We will
change topics at ten o'clock. I had a guest coming in.
We're going to talk to a restaurant expert, hidden restaurants
in Boston, some great restaurants. We'll have some fun, and
then later on tonight we'll do a twentieth hour. But
(29:49):
right now, would you want to live anywhere other than
the United States of America. I don't want to sound like,
you know, mister cheerleader for America, for the United States
of America, But I can't imagine one visiting other countries.
But I kind of imagine going away, unless it's like
Rosie O'Donnell, who's a little messed up. Anyway, we'll be
back on night Side right after this.
Speaker 1 (30:10):
Now back to Dan Ray live from the Window World
Nightside Studios on WBZ News Radio.
Speaker 2 (30:18):
All right, we got full lines. Let's go, Come on,
let's go. Maureen in Brockton, Maureen, I think I know
you pretty well. I'm thinking you're going to be pretty
close to me on this issue.
Speaker 6 (30:29):
Yes, one hundred and there is no other country I
would want to permanently live. I do have a sister
Dan who I want to say five years roughly ago.
She she was living in Massachusetts and she had she
(30:49):
went to UMSS Boston and one year she had a
semester in Dublin and a semester in Belfast. And we
have family, We have family in Ireland. My sister decided
without a job, without a place to live, and she
she now fully one, lives in full time. She lives
in Ireland and that's totally her thing.
Speaker 5 (31:11):
Me no, me, no, I'm no where.
Speaker 2 (31:13):
About I know Ireland pretty well. Whereabouts does she live?
Speaker 6 (31:18):
My father's family is on the UH. It's it's near.
Speaker 1 (31:23):
Galway to the west coast.
Speaker 2 (31:25):
Yeah, okay, and there's a lot of American companies that
are over there in Ireland. She does she work for
an American company?
Speaker 6 (31:35):
No, she actually it's funny because she she just read, well,
she was working for an Irish company up to about
almost two years ago. What she's doing now is she's
actually working for UH, a former bus when she was
in Massachusetts. So she's working for this woman that lives
(31:56):
in Massachusetts.
Speaker 2 (31:57):
But very cool. Does she does? She have her Irish
citizen and ship? I hope as well.
Speaker 6 (32:03):
Well, I think so she's got well, because our father
was born in Ireland, so you're all I know she's got.
Is it the same? She's got the Irish passport, so
I don't know if that is.
Speaker 2 (32:14):
That the pah. Yeah, if you have an Irish passport,
you got to be an Irish citizen. I have the
Irish passport too, so I know I can trust me.
You should get the Irish citizenship too, by the way, Marine, Okay, if.
Speaker 6 (32:25):
Your dad was born there, yeah, no, I just you know,
like I said I I years ago, I you know,
was lucky enough to do traveling, mostly to England and
Ireland because we have family. But no, there were so
many there were so many things about living.
Speaker 2 (32:41):
You know.
Speaker 6 (32:42):
I'm grateful that you know the choices I can make it.
I don't have to you know, I don't have to
get government approval that I can do, you know, X,
Y and Z for the most.
Speaker 2 (32:53):
Part, exactly, Maureen. I love your calls, one of my
best callers. Thank you so much. Always great to hear
your voice. Best of Like to you this weekend. Have
a great weekend and say hey, did Jack for me?
Speaker 7 (33:04):
Okay he shows back.
Speaker 6 (33:05):
Thanks, have a great night.
Speaker 2 (33:07):
He takes you have a great night. Let's keep it rolling.
He're gonna go to Ed in Worcester. Ed is an
old friend as well.
Speaker 4 (33:13):
Ed.
Speaker 2 (33:13):
How are you tonight?
Speaker 5 (33:15):
I'm good?
Speaker 2 (33:15):
How are you doing great?
Speaker 1 (33:17):
So?
Speaker 2 (33:18):
Am I right or wrong? You want to back me
up or throw me under the bus?
Speaker 5 (33:22):
Well, I'm going to disagree with Elan Maureen and probably
line up a little more with Jack. We don't look
we materially we have everything you could possibly want. And
as she was saying a moment ago, we have all
these options. But what we don't have is any kind
of like underlying community of identification or principles or values anymore.
(33:45):
And I think people recognize that, and I think they
find it very, very unsatisfying. Okay, so how do we
get that back in the country? There's nothing uniting us anymore.
Speaker 2 (33:54):
Okay, But how do we get that back? Do we
wait until the next time?
Speaker 5 (33:57):
I think it's gone. I think it's gone. I think
we would be I know I've said this on your
show at least once before, but I'm actually to the
point where I think we would be better off. I
don't expect this is going to happen soon, but it
may happen eventually. I think we would be better off
splitting up into two different countries, splitting up the territory
and splitting up the assets and liabilities, and we we'll
(34:21):
just go our separate ways. Because are you going to
do that?
Speaker 2 (34:23):
How are you going to do that?
Speaker 5 (34:24):
I mean, India and Pakistan and Bangladesh did it. They
used to be one country. Canada came within a hair
in the nineteen nineties of splitting up into two different
countries from Quebec.
Speaker 2 (34:36):
I don't think.
Speaker 5 (34:36):
And the thing is, we're already we're already separating. We're
people are already self segregating. They're already moving towards areas
where there are people who think the way they do already.
Speaker 2 (34:48):
But here's my question. Here's my question. You know, back
in the Civil War, it was the North against the South. Now,
I'm sure that there were Northerners who had sympathies for
the South advice ver. But you have we have two
coasts that are similar California similar to Massachusetts, New York, Maryland,
(35:08):
et cetera. And then you have the Midwest and the
Plain States and the rocky mountain states. In the South,
you'd almost have to have to have three countries like
the East coast, the West coast, and the rest of
the country.
Speaker 5 (35:21):
I don't think not today with airline travel today. And
the thing is, the people who live in the so
called Blue States, Yeah, they don't want to go to
the Red States anyway. They disparagingly call it flyover country.
They're proud of the fact they don't want to go there.
Speaker 2 (35:36):
All right, all right, well, maybe maybe we should do it.
Find me some thinker or some author who's written a
book about the dissolusion, dissolution, and and we'll get somebody.
Speaker 5 (35:50):
We'll tell you on the political right that is becoming
increasingly a subject of discussion and something that a lot
of people are thinking would make a lot of sense.
And I certainly think it would.
Speaker 2 (36:02):
Yeah, I am to the right of center, but I'm
not that far right, that's for sure. I have I
have too many liberal friends. I don't want to I
don't want to divorce.
Speaker 5 (36:10):
You can go visit them. You could go visit them
in the other country if you wanted to.
Speaker 2 (36:15):
Yeah, you know, I wish you is.
Speaker 5 (36:21):
We can't allow people from the Blue America to come
into the Red America and buy up property and vote,
because that's what they will do. They will screw up
their half of it, and then they will try to
move into our half of it and mess that up,
so we can't.
Speaker 2 (36:36):
Allow all right, all right, I gotta get to two
other quick callers before I'm done. Hey, that was a
great call. Kept call back early some night and we'll
follow up on it. Okay, thank you, good night, Michael
and Maine. Michael, I want to get you and I
want to get Scott from Hansen and go ahead, Michael,
Thank you, my friend.
Speaker 5 (36:55):
Hey, I was gonna move to Ireland until I found
out Rosie O'donnever.
Speaker 2 (37:00):
I am going the shot one now.
Speaker 5 (37:04):
I'll let you go. Dan, you have a good weekend,
my friend.
Speaker 2 (37:06):
That's a great line. I love it. Thanks, Mike, appreciate it.
Speaker 6 (37:10):
You.
Speaker 2 (37:11):
I love calls like that, quick to the point. I
love it. Thanks, Thanks very much, Scott and Hanson. Scott,
gonna wrap the hour with you. God heead Scott.
Speaker 7 (37:21):
Hey, Dan, thanks for having me. Yeah, I guess I
would have to somewhat agree with what Edit said. And
I love where I live. I live in Massachusetts here
my whole life. I love the country. But it's really
disheartening like this sort of divided political environment, and you know,
it doesn't seem you know, I'm hoping maybe in the
(37:42):
next election somebody can come in to sort of get
us back to a normal you know. You know, both
sides are so far apart.
Speaker 2 (37:52):
Want to make a suggestion here and maybe start a campaign?
Who would you like? Who would you like?
Speaker 7 (37:58):
I don't really have a candidate. I guess it's just
I have, you know, and I think a lot of
people are just disgusted with the Okay, so let me
ask you, Okay, let.
Speaker 2 (38:08):
Me ask you this. If you could resurrect a a
long since past president, who would you like?
Speaker 7 (38:17):
You know, I liked Reagan a lot. I didn't like
Obama when he was there, but he is a person
I thought would be more qualified to unite people. I'm
kind of I'm kind of a right leaning type of
a person. I agree with a lot of Trump's policies,
(38:37):
but I feel like the guy is a total buffoon.
I agree with the look that Doge is doing, but
you know, the you know, Elon with the chainsaw wasn't
a good look.
Speaker 2 (38:49):
Not at all. You know, very whose idea? Whose idea
was that?
Speaker 4 (38:55):
Yeah?
Speaker 7 (38:55):
I mean, I mean I think it was. It makes
sense to take a fresh look at how we spend
their money. I don't have issue with that, yep, But
when you look at it, like you know, people on
the left, you can't even have that conversation, you know, like, oh,
you're you're you know, picked the edgic, you know, you're
your whatever. If you even want to have that conversation.
Speaker 2 (39:17):
You're a nasty word. You're a nasty word. Hey, this
was a good hour.
Speaker 7 (39:21):
My oldest daughter, My oldest daughter moved to London. She's
been there five or six years now, and it was
really about that. She just doesn't the political environment. You
just can't stand the way it is. And it's too bad,
it really is. I mean, I'm hoping the country could
come back to a normal people being civil to each other,
(39:41):
people working on issues together.
Speaker 3 (39:43):
You know.
Speaker 2 (39:45):
Okay, quick question, if you could switch Vance and Trump today,
what do you think about Vance?
Speaker 7 (39:53):
You know, it's kind of ironic. You know a couple
of things about them. You know, when I first watched
and his first sort of roll where I.
Speaker 2 (40:03):
Really you got you gotta be quick. I'm literally up against.
Speaker 7 (40:06):
I thought, I thought ITAs some really stupid comments. I'm
a gun guy, I'm a hunter. My whole life. And
he talked about his nana having loaded guns all around
the house, and I'm thinking, what an irresponsible thing to say.
So that was my first impression of him, and fair enough.
Speaker 2 (40:21):
Okay, I gotta run, Scott, He'll do this to you.
But I could talk to you for another hour, but
I gotta guess coming up this. We had some excellent
calls this hour. I want to thank everyone, from Jack
and Joe and Maureen and Ed, Michael and yourself. This
was a really good hour. If it exceeded my expectations.
We'll do this again. Thanks, Thanks God, appreciate it. Have
(40:42):
a great weekend.
Speaker 3 (40:43):
You're too good.
Speaker 2 (40:45):
Nick. All right, we come back. We are going to
change topics and we're gonna get you some information on
restaurants in Boston. NBC ten food writer Mark Hurwitz is
going to join us tonight and talk about some of
the hidden gym restauran in Boston that you might not
know about. We'll be back right after the ten o'clock
news on Nightside
Popular Podcasts
Stuff You Should Know
If you've ever wanted to know about champagne, satanism, the Stonewall Uprising, chaos theory, LSD, El Nino, true crime and Rosa Parks, then look no further. Josh and Chuck have you covered.
Dateline NBC
Current and classic episodes, featuring compelling true-crime mysteries, powerful documentaries and in-depth investigations. Follow now to get the latest episodes of Dateline NBC completely free, or subscribe to Dateline Premium for ad-free listening and exclusive bonus content: DatelinePremium.com
Las Culturistas with Matt Rogers and Bowen Yang
Ding dong! Join your culture consultants, Matt Rogers and Bowen Yang, on an unforgettable journey into the beating heart of CULTURE. Alongside sizzling special guests, they GET INTO the hottest pop-culture moments of the day and the formative cultural experiences that turned them into Culturistas. Produced by the Big Money Players Network and iHeartRadio.