...nice?

I've been reading magazines lately about how to enrich my life. They all seem to be telling me similar things, no earth-shattering new findings, all simple and logical enough pointers. Breathe deeply every day, make time for yourself to relax from daily pressures put upon you, love yourself, forgive yourself, listen to your inner voice, learn not to regret the past because you can't change it anyway, learn not to be anxious about the future because you cannot see it anyway, instead, live in the moment, enjoy your life, be thankful, surround yourself with love, give love and you will receive it, make lists of things you are greatful for, think positive, confront your fears, take life head-on, smile in the face of sorrow.
Now my question is this: Are there really people out there who think that being mean and aggressive and violent makes them a happy person?
Well, I guess there must be, otherwise how do you explain the billions of trees being cut down for providing paper to print issue upon issue dealing with how to build selfesteem, find love, be happy, release tension, etc etc, all regurgitating the same simple basic idea of "be nice". I'm not saying reading those thoughts about being a better person don't make you feel great when you see them in print, black on white, because for me, it was a relief thinking: there must be some folks, like me, reading this and starting to feel good about themselves which in turn brings them to being nicer to others, reflecting on their behaviour and possibly even spreading the word. There is hope for mankind, maybe, if enough people read this stuff and decide to give it a go and find it works - we may just make it as a race. After all, if everyone takes care of themselves, all people are taken care of, right? And if everyone tries to make this world a better place starting with themselves, then eventually all people should be happy and that would mean an end to war, right?
Ok, I'm definitely too blue-eyed and naïve and possibly just plain stupid here, because obviously in matters of money and politics "being nice" just doesn't cut it.
Maybe we're overloaded on information. Science is making leaping progress every minute, we're able to explain most processes in the human body, how the world was created, what happens when atoms split, why lemmings throw themselves off a cliff, how the brain influences our state of happiness. What we don't yet know is who killed Kennedy, why the chicken crossed the street and how reliable our scientific progress is. All experience has shown us is that you just have to wait long enough and today's theories will be revealed as tomorrow's nonsense. The sun revolves around the earth, our planet is flat, margarine's not good for you, you name it. Does that mean today's "be nice" will be tomorrow's "who gives a damn"? To be honest, I feel like the latter sometimes already, especially when I'm making an effort, then look around me and notice I'm alone. How much longer til frustration gnaws its way through the niceness to the cynical core I'm sure I have inside of me?
Will it be worth giving in and being like the rest of them: egotistical, only out for personal gain, making money, having power? Or is it saner in the long run to believe happiness and relaxation will grant us serenity, a healthy body, and a fulfilled life? I don't know about you, but I'll be trying to be nice, granting me the odd cynical moment only when I absolutely need it. That should keep me in balance.
:-)