Constitutional rights, happiness and the adjusting vocation

Since November is an election month, there will be much thought given to the United States Constitution and our representative government. The first great American document was Thomas Jefferson’s Declaration of Independence where he wrote, “We hold these truths to be self-evident, that all men are created equal, that they are endowed by their Creator with certain unalienable rights, that among these are life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness.” The Constitution echoes this in the Preamble.

Jefferson says we have an inalienable right to the preservation of life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness. We can pursue happiness, but there is very little chance that we will catch it 100% of the time. But exactly what is tranquil happiness?