I’ll save the long preface and contextualization and cut to the point with some facts.
- The wealthier a state in the US is, the more likely that state is to be a “blue state,” though the wealthiest individuals in that state are most likely to be conservative.
- The wealthier a nation is, the less likely that nation is to be a religious one (The US is a big outlier here). Further, the less religious a nation is, the more likely it will be, on average, one in which its citizens report high levels of satisfaction and happiness- though, paradoxically, the more religious individuals in those societies are the happiest among them.
The point here is a simple one and one that echoes the theme below: regardless of your personal experience, there is something about the social milleu in which you live that sets the bounds of your sense of what is possible, your identity, your values and your interests. Social structure and environment are important, yo. Just a reminder.
