Geneva, Switzerland.  What is the happiest place? Last week (4/23) in its annual World Happiness Report, the United Nations reported that Switzerland was No. 1. The United States ranked No. 15, and the African country of Togo came in last, at number 158. (Scroll down to Figure 2.2 for the ranked list.)

Switzerland is arguably the world's most successful country -- and most improbably so. It is landlocked and without much in the way of natural resources. It has four official languages, many different religious groups, and is surrounded by warring neighbors. Yet, it has remained an island of peace and prosperity.

The modern Swiss federal state goes back to 1848, when a federal constitution was adopted, giving the central government responsibility for defense, trade and legal matters. All other government matters were left to the cantons and the communes (i.e., cities and towns).

The U.S. Constitution, which is more than a half-century older than the Swiss, also greatly limited the powers of the central government -- but unlike the Swiss, there has been a centralization of power in the capital at the expense of the states and local governments.

How did the Swiss do it?

I've written often about Thomas Paine (1736-1809), one of my favorite historical figures. I thought this week as a counterpoint I'd write about one of my least favorite figures... his 18^th century contemporary, Jean Jacques Rousseau (1712-1778).  

Being against reason, science, civilization, individual liberty, and self-discipline, Rousseau's thinking has been at the root of much of the psychological, political, and cultural trouble of our time.  It has specifically popularized a philosophy of emotions that has done and continues to do great harm.

While ideals of individual liberty, natural rights, representative democracy, and private property were growing in influence throughout the west, Rousseau argued against them.

When Rousseau sent his friend Voltaire a copy of his second Discourse, Voltaire began his brilliant reply, "I have received, Monsieur, your new book against the human race."   Which is why one clear path to wisdom is to ignore his baneful influence completely.

The Jade Steps

Chapter Twenty-Eight:  The Fate of Montezuma

Cortez moved swiftly to commandeer the ships and supplies of Narvaez's fleet.  Under the command of Francisco de Lugo, the ships were brought to Villa Rica, everything of use brought ashore, and the great quantities of wine, bacon, flour, cassava bread and other perishables carefully stored.

He also moved quickly to merge the men and commands of Narvaez's men with his own.  He detached Juan Velasquez de Leon and 120 men, 100 of whom were Narvaez men, to explore the coast to the north of Villa Rica and establish a colony near the river Panuco.  He directed Diego de Ordaz to lead the same sort of contingent south for a colony near the river Coatzacoalco.

He placed Rodrigo Rangel in charge of Villa Rica, made sure Narvaez and Salvatierra were securely imprisoned there, and ordered Gonzalo de Sandoval to make all preparations for the remainder of the command to return to Tenochtitlan.

Then everything changed when Malinali brought one of Narvaez's officers, Botello Puerto de Plata, to Cortez.  "Señor de Plata has disturbing news, my Captain," she told him.  Cortez had been hearing about him.  A hidalgo from Santander on the north coast of Castille, he had become a Latin scholar while studying in Rome, and had a reputation for being a prestidigitador, a magician who could predict the future.

"Señor Cortez, I must warn you to leave here immediately," de Plata announced.  "The officer you left in command at Tenochtitlan, Pedro de Alvarado, and all your men there are in grave danger.  The Aztecs are making war upon them, they are attempting to climb into their quarters with ladders, and wish to kill them all.  You must return there quickly."

If you are reading this before breakfast, please consider having an egg, yolk included.

Any day now, the US government will officially accept the advice to drop cholesterol from its list of "nutrients of concern" altogether.  A sixty-year torrent of bad dietary advice is coming to an end.

The evidence has been building for years that eating cholesterol does not cause high blood cholesterol.  It's not some vile poison but an essential ingredient of life, which makes animal cell membranes flexible and is the raw material for making hormones, like testosterone and estrogen.

Your liver manufactures most of the cholesterol found in your blood from scratch, and adjusts for what you ingest, which is why diet does not determine blood cholesterol levels. Lowering blood cholesterol by changing diet is all but impossible.

From the very first, the studies that linked the ingestion of cholesterol and saturated animal fats to cardiovascular disease were not just flawed, but fraudulent.

What is going on around here?  Whatever the Pubs are drinking on Capitol Hill, they need to keep drinking it.  This week, we present the House of Good News.

There are four examples, ending with Speaker John Boehner yesterday (5/14) showing the world how to deal with The Lying Swine.  You're gonna love it...

More good news in the Karma Payback department:  Tuesday (5/12) - Obama Accused of Being Sexist by Chairwoman of NOW...

In the I'm-As-Shocked-As-Claude-Rains department is this poll released on Monday (5/11): Democrats now view socialism as favorably as they view capitalism. As? As?? 

This is a fun and hopeful HFR - which is why a high school kid is the Hero of the Week.  We worry about America's future with good reason.  But there are also good reasons for optimism as well.  Here's a great example...

And there's another example of American ingenuity and insight that you'll find fascinating, funny, and mind-bending thoughtful.  Here's The Bike You Can't Ride...