Gee, and I thought it was just because we were, you know, correct on the issues:

Individuals with conservative ideologies are happier than liberal-leaners, and new research pinpoints the reason: Conservatives rationalize social and economic inequalities.

Regardless of marital status, income or church attendance, right-wing individuals reported greater life satisfaction and well-being than left-wingers, the new study found. Conservatives also scored highest on measures of rationalization, which gauge a person's tendency to justify, or explain away, inequalities.

As for the left, the researchers found "inequality takes a greater psychological toll on liberals" because "they lack ideological rationalizations that would help them frame inequality in a positive (or at least neutral) light." Which is why many school children aren’t allowed to play musical chairs (somebody always loses), terrorists can’t be spied on (violation of privacy), and publishing funny pictures of Mohammed is prohibited (someone’s feelings might get hurt).

Speaking for myself, I’ve never justified inequalities any more than I’ve justified picnics getting rained out. And if I do "explain away" inequalities, it would be this way: Life ain’t perfect, some guys have all the luck, and never underestimate the power of a good-looking woman.