I've found that the meanest, most selfish, jealous and small minded people I've come across are the small town, working class joes who've nothing better to do and who've no other interesting things going on in their lives than causing intrigue and gossiping about each other.

Mae West once said; "I'd rather be rich and depressed, than poor and depressed".

Speaking as someone who's chronically depressed, I'd just rather not be depressed.

Brings to mind the English study where they analyzed test results from 100 top executives and 100 high-security prison inmates and found the rate of criminal pathology higher in the executives.

actually, there's a cut-off of diminishing returns by which, in the U.S.A., an income more than about $70,000 / year does not substantially increase one's level of happiness or satisfaction, whereas beneath that amount, money can, indeed, buy happiness -- or at least the kinds of amenities which facilitate it.