Do you often feel sad, lonely, depressed or powerless? Do you suffer from existential melancholy or an insufficient amount of personal happiness? If you answered ‘yes,’ you may be suffering from a lack of social or political activism!

New psychological research says that any sort of political or social activism can be beneficial to life satisfaction, and that the recent disengagement from politics is actually a reflection of personal unhappiness. Recent studies have shown that people who are politically active maintain healthier relationships and obtain greater purpose in life.

Interesting stuff. The only question I have is, which party paid the psychologists to print this?

Kidding. Actually, they make a valid point. The question is, why does becoming involved in politics make us happier? I think this ties in with a topic of conversation this morning between my boss and I – party membership cards. Being a “Card-Carrying ______,” or becoming involved in any type of political activism gives us a tie to something powerful, something important. I think it provides us with a sense of belonging, or a connection to an institution that actually means something. After all, the greatest of all human needs is the need to belong.

Regardless of your motives for wanting some sort of politics-induced euphoria, these psychologists are submitting that even a small step in activism can increase well being, so why not start here? Become a supporter of the CTF, make a donation, and improve your quality of life!