When you make purchases through our links we may earn a small commission.
Photo Credit: instagram.com/thesmokingchair
In America, we’ve long been sold the dream that one day, if we work hard enough, we too can join the billionaire class. But perhaps it’s time we admit the truth: not everyone can become a billionaire. The math doesn’t work. That’s not how the system is designed. Yet, that doesn’t mean we can’t all feel like we are.
Because here’s the secret: the happiness of a billionaire isn’t actually about the money. It’s about what that money shields them from.
There’s an old saying: money can’t buy you happiness. In the strictest sense, that’s true. Studies consistently show that after a certain threshold—usually around $75,000 to $100,000 annually, depending on location—the correlation between money and happiness plateaus. More money doesn’t equate to proportionally greater happiness.
So why are billionaires happier—or more accurately, freer?
The answer isn’t in their bank balances. It’s in their lives, absent of the daily worries and chronic anxieties that plague ordinary people. It’s in the psychological freedom that comes when life isn’t a constant negotiation between survival and dignity.
Ask yourself: what do billionaires never worry about?
Hunger? Never.
Eviction? Not once.
Medical bankruptcy? Impossible.
Employment abuse? They don’t work for anyone.
Escaping bad environments? They can leave—immediately.
Caring for loved ones? Their wealth shields entire generations.
It’s not the yachts or private islands that bring contentment. It’s this: freedom from life’s booby traps. Freedom from systemic vulnerabilities. Freedom from the traps designed to catch, penalize, and hold down ordinary Americans.
When surveyed, people in democratic socialist countries—Denmark, Finland, Norway, the Netherlands—consistently report higher levels of happiness, life satisfaction, and trust in their fellow citizens. Why? Because basic human dignity isn’t conditional. Their societies guarantee it.
In these countries:
Healthcare is a right.
Education is accessible.
Workers aren’t tethered to bad jobs for insurance.
People don’t fear financial ruin over a broken bone.
They’ve chosen collective freedom over individual hoarding.
In the U.S., we parade around the notion of freedom like a badge of honor. But what do we actually mean by that? For many Americans, “freedom” is nothing more than a brand slogan—a facade masking the harsh truth.
Are you free when:
Your job locks you in through healthcare dependency?
Your body’s health hinges on your bank account?
Your education shackles you in lifelong debt?
Your landlord raises your rent, and you can’t say no?
A medical emergency can end your financial life overnight?
This isn’t freedom. It’s systemic extortion. It’s living life in a minefield, where every misstep can obliterate your future.
The American political dichotomy feels like a rigged game. Democrats, for all their imperfections, at least attempt to expand safety nets and provide relief to those in need. Republicans, conversely, often double down on a philosophy of enrichment for the already rich, as though prosperity trickles down through the cracks in marble floors.
Why is this the only game we’re playing? Why must helping people be a partisan debate? Why is ensuring basic dignity controversial?
We must stop pretending this political theater represents our best interests. It doesn’t. It’s a distraction—a smokescreen preventing real change.
If Americans ever choose to wake up, the path forward is clear. Not through handouts or endless welfare bureaucracy, but through systemic empowerment.
The Standard Tax Refund (STR):
A universal, flat monthly refund for all citizens. No forms. No conditions. No bureaucracy. Just a guaranteed baseline, acknowledging that in the world’s richest country, no one should be destitute.
Universal Healthcare (Americare):
It’s time to join the rest of the developed world. Health should not be a product sold to the highest bidder. It should be a right, guaranteed at birth.
Together, these two policies wouldn’t just reduce poverty. They’d eliminate the psychological burdens billions of dollars protect the elite from. They’d provide real freedom.
No more waiting for the charity of billionaires. No more trickle-down promises. Just justice—baked into the system.
What billionaires enjoy is not joy itself, but the freedom from fear. From the chronic, gnawing anxieties that crush the human spirit.
What every American deserves—and should demand—is that same freedom. Not the illusion of freedom, wrapped in patriotic rhetoric, but actual freedom:
Freedom to choose work based on passion, not desperation.
Freedom to relocate, explore, and reinvent without risking destitution.
Freedom from fears that punish not just individuals, but generations.
This is not a utopian fantasy. It’s an attainable reality. Countries have done it. People live it every day—just not here.
The system isn’t broken. It’s working precisely as it was designed—to benefit a select few. The question is: when will we demand a redesign?
Not everyone can be a billionaire. But everyone can live free from billionaire-level fears.
It’s not about envy of wealth. It’s about access to dignity.
Money doesn’t buy happiness.
Freedom does.
And that’s something every American deserves. Not later. Not someday.
Now.
You’ll get more articles like this – and our favorite promotional offers delivered straight to your inbox.
By submitting this form you agree to our terms and conditions. You can unsubscribe at any time.
The Puerto Vallarta Food Scene: Best Tacos, Seafood, Street Eats & Hidden Gems
Puerto Vallarta is one of Mexico’s most exciting food destinations — a place where smoky al pastor tacos, beachside ceviche, modern Mexican tasting menus, and bustling local markets come together in one unbeatable eating city. Here’s a full guide to the flavors, dishes, and spots that make PV unforgettable.
Trump Hits Swalwell With Mortgage-Fraud Accusations
President Trump’s team is accusing Rep. Eric Swalwell of mortgage and tax fraud — but the allegations closely mirror the financial misrepresentations Trump himself was found liable for in New York’s civil fraud case. This article breaks down the accusations, the political motives, and how the two situations differ in scale, credibility, and legal posture.
Thursday Night Football Recap: Patriots vs Jets
The Patriots powered past the Jets 27–14 on Thursday Night Football behind TreVeyon Henderson’s three touchdowns and another sharp outing from Drake Maye. Here’s the full quarter-by-quarter breakdown of how the game unfolded.
Today’s Top Sports Stories — November 13, 2025
MLS unveils a massive 2027 schedule overhaul, Lukas Wenig delivers the biggest darts win of his career, Kansas State suffers a heartbreaking last-second loss, and Paris honors the victims of the 2015 attacks during a moving moment at Parc des Princes. Here’s your full recap of today’s top sports stories.
The Smoking Chair Daily: Top Political Stories You Need to Know — November 13, 2025
A comprehensive breakdown of today’s major political developments — from the government’s reopening and the new Latin America military mission to escalating battles over Epstein files and a major U.S. investment announcement from Toyota.
Healthcare Should Be Free ⎯ For You And Me
America’s healthcare system costs more and delivers less. This cornerstone article launches a 100-part series explaining why free, universal healthcare is the moral and economic evolution we can no longer afford to ignore.
