Government planning " Happiness Survey "

The theoretical equality of Marxist ideology doesn’t seem to have worked. It is a utopian aspiration. Human beings are born into a huge range of differing social circumstances and state social engineering does not work. People will change their own circumstances by dint of their own efforts.

People will achieve their own sense of well-being in a hundred different ways.

Actually it is not that daft – if you look behind the simplistic reporting. Would suggest reading Richard Wilkinson particularly

The Impact of Inequality: How to Make Sick Societies Healthier

and

The Spirit Level: Why Equality Is Better For Everyone

These outline the theory concerning inequalities which lead to material deprivation, lower wellbeing , poorer health and sicker societies. Social epidemiology highlights the fact that the social environment has as much impact on health as other factors and wellbeing is a useful measure of this. It is wellbeing that will be measured through this initiative and not “happiness”.

It is unfortunate that the BBC (and probably other media outlets) refer to this as “happiness” as this simplistic view masks the complexities associated with the inequalities and wellbeing debate.

The best thing is to pretend to be miserable on a sort of Victor Meldrew level.

Any degree of happiness will probably attract taxation.

Well they got my sides splitting just by suggesting something so daft.!:rolleyes:

The Communist governments in the USSR and its allies used to do research like this on their respective proletariat. Happiness was compulsory I understand. Nothing new under the sun eh;)

I’ve seen my taxes wasted on some daft things in my time,but this takes the biscuit.
Besides,happiness is relative.The same set of circumstances might see you as happy as a lark and me crying into my glass of white wine for the ladies.
Furthermore,can anyone say that they’re completely happy ? Even if my life was all tickety-boo at the moment ( and believe me,it certainly isn’t ), I’d still be worrying myself about starving children and disappearing rainforest.
Anybody reading this a complete and utter ray of sunshine today ?

Going only slightly off topic, I would like to sign up as one of their ‘Happiness Consultants’……..

Exactly what will the government do about it when it confirms that we’re a nation of miserable blighters ?

Nothing as always because they only look out for themselves and their ilk. It does not matter what ‘insignia’ they wear they’re all the bl**dy same I’m afraid. So don’t waste your time looking to those self serving hypocrites to make you happy, as they will only make you unhappier still……………..they always do:mad:

Despite the over simplistic reporting there is sound evidence behind this- the clue is in the well being aspect.

I think it is a little curious that they start to measure this now as we are about to enter probably one of the most dismal periods in our recent history – I guess the clue is in the statement that it’s not all about money. Which is quite apt as they embark on a major exercise to remove as much of it as possible from as many as possible!

I regret to say that this is another bit of headline grabbing nonsense from a government of which I had higher hopes. If the policies meet the electorate’s aspirations then a degree of happiness will follow, for the majority. There is no way you are going to please all the people all the time……so don’t try.