Carl Haissen

Carl Haissen seems to be a very dry sort of fellow. He reminds me a lot of Jimmy Breslin in his quest for getting the truth to the people and trying to promote what he feels is the greater good, but he goes about it very differently than Breslin. Haissen does not play on the heartstrings of the masses in the same way that Mr. Breslin did. While Jimmy took an emotional approach to journalism, Carl takes a very sarcastic, humorous approach to his writing. Haissen feels that"sarcasm and satire are incredibly effective weapons. Politicians don't mind if you get up on a soap box and scream and yell at them. They can take that - but if you're making fun of them that drives them nuts. And that's what I like to do... I love to ruin their day. The more I can humiliate them in print the happier I am. I mean I'm proud of it." I believe he is fueled by political and societal problems, especially those close to home. He seems to be extremely against the development of the Florida Everglades and the destruction of the natural habitats therein. I also believe that his sarcasm and satiristic writing is less effective than Breslin's emotional approach because that style of writing is more difficult to take seriously.

Buying happiness

I feel that Maslow and Aristotle's idea are very similar. "The central issue for Aristotle is the question of character or personality — what does it take for an individual human being to be a good person?" and similarly, Maslow's self-actualization need (which is the highest level a person can reach) is "the instinctual need of humans to make the most of their abilities and to strive to be the best they can. Working toward fulfilling our potential, toward becoming all that we are capable of becoming." To be a good person and strive to be the best one can are one in the same.
I don't believe that a person can become their best self simply by buying a certain product. If this were so, we would all be wonderful people and we'd be sitting around the classroom in our Nike's, singing Kume-by-ya and attaining spiritual enlightenment. It just doesn't work that way. The clothes do not make the man!!! It's what's inside that counts and that is where spiritual enlightenment or self-actualization must take place.
I don't think that it's necessarily wrong/unethical to try to sell a product by appealing to a persons deep desire for actual happiness. I think most advertising does this on some level. whether it be a Zale's diamond commercial or Nivea body lotion, most commercials tap into the consumers need for happiness and try to associate their product with finding such happiness.