Blog: Measuring our happiness

Thursday 25th November 2010, 11:43AM GMT.

Blog: Measuring our happiness

So, the Government wants to measure our happiness, writes Jon Simcock.

Our Prime Minister reckons it’s time to stop measuring the nation’s well-being in terms of wealth and start looking at a bigger picture.

Call me cynical, but he would say that, wouldn’t he?

Just as Mr Cameron sets about making more cuts than the last winner of the King of Cuts cutting championships, he starts to spread the message that quality of life is more important than wealth.

Funny, isn’t it, that it’s always wealthy people who tell you that.

So how will Dashing Dave measure the wellbeing of the nation if it’s not to be in terms of straight cash?

Will he take into consideration the honesty of our politicians? That might prove a little difficult for the man in charge of a coalition which appears to regard pre-election promises as useless baggage to be ditched at the first opportunity. One would never question the integrity of both the PM and his deputy, but a quick look at the old Collins concise might enlighten them about what exactly what the word promise means.

Will he take into consideration the future for our children? He could, but will have to explain why he wants to saddle any ordinary youngster who aspires to university with the sort of debt which would have even Gordon Brown blushing.

Surely he could take into account our great sporting heritage and the fact that the Olympics will be here in 2012? Yes, that’s fantastic, but it’s possibly not the greatest idea to be cutting our schools’ sports budget at the same time.

The best idea, Mr Cameron, is a simple one.

You get on with the job of running the country to the best of your ability and leave the feel-good factor well out of it.

And if you feel tempted at any time in the future to revisit this idea, just ask yourself one question.

What would Winston Churchill say?


  1. 1
    Jeffrey Borra

    This apparently will cost £2million, who will conduct the surveys Camerons Cronies?

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  2. 2
    Brian Thompson

    I must be getting old! Is it just me that thinks we are living in the land of make believe. I’ll take the money to make me happy thanks, I’m sure Mr Cameron and Mr Clegg find it makes them happy!

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  3. 3
    CDC

    Has the country gone mad or Cameron that is. Measure happiness then kick somebody out of his or her home if there is any thought of abuse by either partner. Welcome to the big society.

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    • chris

      Agreed. It is making me even less happy to read on bbc shropshire website that the terms and conditions of my employment are going to be changed by the council yet again! Wage cuts and goodness knows what else. This will mean a cut in my tiny pension too. But all my bills are increasing.

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  4. 4
    pete

    This Ruddlike caring politics doesn’t interest me.Save giving me the money thats being spent on this tosh and me telling one and all how happy I would be I believe the best way of a politician understanding happiness is through a ballot box! As for what the Labour leader is doing seeking to understand the public it reflects of how their Westminster clique is so out of touch. These useless decadent politics are offensive.

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  5. 5
    Nistagmus

    Dear Mr Cameron, may I please act as a consultant on this initiative ? I have an idea that will boost the countries ‘jollity index’ no end. It involves politicians, hob-nailed boots and a kicking competition. I’ll fill you in on the details when I get the gig.

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  6. 6
    zz94

    I think Mr Cameron needs to check into rehab and get himself off that Delusiodrone as it doesn’t seem to be doing him any good.
    Given that the NHS spend over £300m annually on antidepressants is a survey really that necessary?

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    • Huw Peach

      If UK citizens consume more antidepressants next year, then our GDP will go up, even though we all know that our well-being is going down.

      Would you say that growth in GDP is always good, zz94?

      Or would you recognise that other indicators need to be measured to understand the full picture?

      With this new index, the devastating impact on people’s well-being of the spending cuts will be clear for all to see, even those trumpeting the health of the economy and GDP.

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  7. 7
    Dio

    Although a small amount of money in terms of national spending – a huge waste of money in reality.

    1) A personal point: I share a debilitating illness with 250,000 other UK citizens that leave most of us on benefits, and an estimated total loss of £6.4 billion to the economy each year (Government estimate 2006). The UK Government spent £109,000 (FOI figure) on medical research into this illness last year – a pitiful 44 pence per sufferer. £2 million would be a small but useful boost to research in my case as the current Government plan to spend nothing on it’s research next year.

    2) A point linked to the Shropshire Stars item about the property ladder (http://www.shropshirestar.com/money/property/2010/11/28/slippery-first-step-on-property-ladder/): This highlights that even a couple in Shropshire, both earning the average wage, would still not earn enough to get onto the property ladder. So, money may not be as important as happiness in the minds of the ultra-wealthy, but I’m sure it would make a huge difference to the happiness of young people trying to become independent for the first time.

    In the end, I’m sure the £2 million study will show that people would be happier if they had more money and financial security; and the Government didn’t waste tax payers money on pointless studies. Of course the day after publication of the study it will be carefully forgotten about, but with at least a couple of consultants a great deal happier.

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    • Huw Peach

      I’m sure a living wage would make the young couple happy and raise their well-being, too.

      Rather than arguing against a well-being index wouldn’t it be better to argue for living wages in Shropshire?

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  8. 8
    chris

    Shropshire council are now discussing cutting wages holiday and sick pay of all its workers – how happy do you think we feel

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