Can government assist people in being happy?
Discussion
Maybe if the Conservative government can’t deliver economic growth they should think about how to measure and assist people in making their lives more fulfilling, enriched and contented. That was the main reason for producing products and services anyway wasn't it?
There must be ways that with little or no public spending we could still make people feel although the quality of their life is improving without increasing their material wealth?
For example:
- A rationalisation of public and school holidays to allow people to avoid crowding, overpriced holidays.
- Staggering working hours in major cities. Many people work less traditional schedules now anyway to get round the 9-5 workers commuting, perhaps this could be a formalised arrangement by industry sector.
- Making the callback option mandatory rather than holding people for government departments (making it mandatory for them to actually call you as well!).
- Laws that tax unsolicited mail and cold calling (Sure they can call you as you sit down to dinner but the public gets 5 quid a go).
There must be ways that with little or no public spending we could still make people feel although the quality of their life is improving without increasing their material wealth?
For example:
- A rationalisation of public and school holidays to allow people to avoid crowding, overpriced holidays.
- Staggering working hours in major cities. Many people work less traditional schedules now anyway to get round the 9-5 workers commuting, perhaps this could be a formalised arrangement by industry sector.
- Making the callback option mandatory rather than holding people for government departments (making it mandatory for them to actually call you as well!).
- Laws that tax unsolicited mail and cold calling (Sure they can call you as you sit down to dinner but the public gets 5 quid a go).
speedy_thrills said:
Maybe if the Conservative government can’t deliver economic growth they should think about how to measure and assist people in making their lives more fulfilling, enriched and contented. That was the main reason for producing products and services anyway wasn't it?
There must be ways that with little or no public spending we could still make people feel although the quality of their life is improving without increasing their material wealth?
For example:
- A rationalisation of public and school holidays to allow people to avoid crowding, overpriced holidays. -good point
- Staggering working hours in major cities. Many people work less traditional schedules now anyway to get round the 9-5 workers commuting, perhaps this could be a formalised arrangement by industry sector. Government dictating when people are allowed to work?
- Making the callback option mandatory rather than holding people for government departments (making it mandatory for them to actually call you as well!). Fair point
- Laws that tax unsolicited mail and cold calling (Sure they can call you as you sit down to dinner but the public gets 5 quid a go). ] - Can't see that being very good for market research companies / their employees.
There must be ways that with little or no public spending we could still make people feel although the quality of their life is improving without increasing their material wealth?
For example:
- A rationalisation of public and school holidays to allow people to avoid crowding, overpriced holidays. -good point
- Staggering working hours in major cities. Many people work less traditional schedules now anyway to get round the 9-5 workers commuting, perhaps this could be a formalised arrangement by industry sector. Government dictating when people are allowed to work?
- Making the callback option mandatory rather than holding people for government departments (making it mandatory for them to actually call you as well!). Fair point
- Laws that tax unsolicited mail and cold calling (Sure they can call you as you sit down to dinner but the public gets 5 quid a go). ] - Can't see that being very good for market research companies / their employees.
Edited by KardioKate on Wednesday 4th April 11:58
Edited by KardioKate on Wednesday 4th April 11:58
jeff m2 said:
In the States we have "Life, Liberty and the pursuit of Happiness" in the Declaration of Independence.
Trust me, it doesn't help
NB It is only the pursuit of such....
"The Constitution only gives people the right to pursue happiness. You have to catch it yourself."Trust me, it doesn't help
NB It is only the pursuit of such....
Benjamin Franklin
thinfourth2 said:
didn't hurt belgium
When I first read about that I thought it was very funny. Imagine how dejected you’d feel if you came back to the office after a holiday and they told you things had run like clockwork while you’d been away, most of them had questioned your value for money.On a side note Singapore has always elected the same party, paid their politicians well to attract the top people and that seems to ‘ve gone pretty well. They even have a state newspaper. I suppose an election is only of value if you can distinguish which is the lesser of a few evils. That's why MMP is fun, you can vote with strategy.
speedy_thrills said:
On a side note Singapore has always elected the same party
Singapore is not an electoral democracy.Bhutan seem to put more emphasis on happiness than thinks like GDP. I'm not sure a Happiness Index would work the same in the West.
Caulkhead said:
jeff m2 said:
In the States we have "Life, Liberty and the pursuit of Happiness" in the Declaration of Independence.
Trust me, it doesn't help
NB It is only the pursuit of such....
"The Constitution only gives people the right to pursue happiness. You have to catch it yourself."Trust me, it doesn't help
NB It is only the pursuit of such....
Benjamin Franklin
Incidentally I was listening to the U.S. primaries today in the wireless. How did you go from the visionaries such as Jefferson, Hamilton, Washington (Maybe even Burr and Madison if history permits?) to the current situation where one of the great political parties has to choose between Romney and Santorum. Men who most of us wouldn’t leave in charge of stacking plates at a charity shop much less a nuclear arsenal.
speedy_thrills said:
Incidentally I was listening to the U.S. primaries today in the wireless. How did you go from the visionaries such as Jefferson, Hamilton, Washington (Maybe even Burr and Madison if history permits?) to the current situation where one of the great political parties has to choose between Romney and Santorum. Men who most of us wouldn’t leave in charge of stacking plates at a charity shop much less a nuclear arsenal.
Why would any potentially great leader want to stand for election in the UK or USA? In reality, what great leadership tasks are there to do? The countries are generally doing OK, not really under serious threat, can't really see any potential for a step change in quality of life, so any potentially great leader is going to end up mired in the petty squabbles that erupt in times of relative stability. Who would want that?speedy_thrills said:
On a side note Singapore has always elected the same party, paid their politicians well to attract the top people and that seems to ‘ve gone pretty well. They even have a state newspaper.
I wouldn't class state propaganda (Ken Livingstone style) to be a good thing. "Tractor production at record levels" and all that...thinfourth2 said:
Well they could take the next decade off as a paid holiday
that would help
didn't hurt belgium to have no government for over a year
We have enough laws
We don't need any more
just leave things alone
This.that would help
didn't hurt belgium to have no government for over a year
We have enough laws
We don't need any more
just leave things alone
I don't always agree with your comments but this is spot on.
HM Government interferes in way too many aspects of life. It started with the last lot but this set of muppets (despite promising differently) is just as bad.
Butt out.
Socialists don't want people to be happy that's the whole point. They favour a political elite where they know best, heaven forbid they should ever meet a 'real working person'.
Reduce government spending by 20% that would make most happy, heavy no parole sentences for serial/ violent offenders, mandatory jail sentences 10 years for carrying a blade 15 a gun, there can be NO possible defence for carrying weapons in public. All mps must have at least 10 years private sector employment, they need to know what a Cornish pasty tastes like.
Reduce government spending by 20% that would make most happy, heavy no parole sentences for serial/ violent offenders, mandatory jail sentences 10 years for carrying a blade 15 a gun, there can be NO possible defence for carrying weapons in public. All mps must have at least 10 years private sector employment, they need to know what a Cornish pasty tastes like.
. Shouldn't every boy have a penknife?MX7 said:
Singapore is not an electoral democracy.
Bhutan seem to put more emphasis on happiness than thinks like GDP. I'm not sure a Happiness Index would work the same in the West.
Yes, but sBhutan seem to put more emphasis on happiness than thinks like GDP. I'm not sure a Happiness Index would work the same in the West.
t gets done out here. The infrastructure is good, there is continuity of leadership, politicians pay is indexed to those in CEO roles in local companies, and in a racially and religiously diverse country freedom of expression unfortunately has to suffer. Singaporeans are free to leave if they dont like it here.It's not perfect, but it's what has transformed Singapore in the past few decades.
Bing o said:
MX7 said:
Singapore is not an electoral democracy.
Bhutan seem to put more emphasis on happiness than thinks like GDP. I'm not sure a Happiness Index would work the same in the West.
Yes, but sBhutan seem to put more emphasis on happiness than thinks like GDP. I'm not sure a Happiness Index would work the same in the West.
t gets done out here. The infrastructure is good, there is continuity of leadership, politicians pay is indexed to those in CEO roles in local companies, and in a racially and religiously diverse country freedom of expression unfortunately has to suffer. Singaporeans are free to leave if they dont like it here.It's not perfect, but it's what has transformed Singapore in the past few decades.
ewenm said:
...any potentially great leader is going to end up mired in the petty squabbles that erupt in times of relative stability. Who would want that?
its a great point. who in their right mind would want to be a politician? your colleagues are, to a man, complete s. what a miserable life arguing with sniveling little snakes with below average inteligence or out kissing some voters a55. ughGassing Station | News, Politics & Economics | Top of Page | What's New | My Stuff