Lets summarize the difference between Gross Domestic Happiness (GDH) compared to Gross Domestic Product (GDP) and the downfall of GDP as a metric for any Nation State.
If a leader does not make physical decisions about the happiness and welfare of his/her people and only decides by the numbers at the bottom of a balance sheet, does it ever make sense to them? We'll explore the character of Winston Churchill to see where Conservatism was going wrong....
Gross Domestic Happiness (GDH) compared to Gross Domestic Product (GDP) and Winston Churchill
GDP allways looks at the bottom line of financial balance sheets....... just the numbers.
It misses out on the human and Earth equation. It doesn't take into account pollution unless billions is spent on cleaning it up and then it is included. But it never takes into account the happiness or contentment of the citizens. Winston Churchill realized that morale was very important for the allies. He needed to stoke them emotionally on a regular basis and reward people who made physical and mental contributions and recognize them. His intelligence network was mostly intact when he was voted out of office after the war. He still had much he wanted to accomplish because of the Iron Curtain. But people needed a long required rest. A change. Some freedom to pursue happiness in their lives, and a freedom from dictatorial commanding oppression and the rule of authority that seemed unfair and unequivocal. And the west isolated itself from what was behind the iron curtain and tried to ignore it for a while. Eventually the Berlin Wall came down! He always said a young man who was not a socialist in his 30s and was not a conservative in his 40s was not intelligent and didn't understand the nature of the seriousness. Winston Churchill was not always right. He always judged peoples character and learnt from them, what they were capable and incapable of at the extremes of action and intellignence. He tested them and their resolve for the cause. It was a terrible curse. Judge not lest ye be judged. He lacked respect for others often, showing a lack of empathy and often his incredible wit was biting and insulting. He suffered from Depression and saw the Black Dog very often. Why couldn't he love the black dog. Could it be something to do with the colour black. He feared it. He lived long, but how happy, how much love did he feel? How many close friends loved him and did he love back or did he consider love and happiness a weakness? He wouldn't tolerate tomfoolery! He thought Romance was a waste of time. He valued action, words,deeds and bravery. He suffered from Megalomania. He was the right character for the wrong time. I believe the whole world tortured him his whole life.
He didn't understand that a lot of people feared him, because he couldn't tolerate a lot of them and he used the ones he could tolerate indescriminately for ends they couldn't completely understand. He understood politics, intelligence, power,wealth,resources and authority and loved the carrot and the stick. It bordered on sociopathology. It was a form of paranoia. He channeled the fear. He understood himself very well. He was a terrific orator and used the mass media, inspiring and brought morale in a difficult time. His Nobel Prize in Literature was legendary. He was one of the greatest judges of human character and a good communicator on many levels, and he knew how to hide his innermost thoughts and feelings.
I don't know if they'd ever appreciate the 'Lion King' movie or 'The Lion in Winter' or 'King Lear' or 'The man who would be King'.
The King of Bhutan has a different approach. Bhutan is nestled between India, China, Nepal and Bangladesh near the Himalayas and the UN says its people are among the happiest in the world. Their King has a happiness Index and actively makes real physical decisions for the welfare of his people according to it. The monetization of everything , putting a price on everything saps the spirit of life. Numbers alone cannot comprehend the Universe. We need Concepts,Art and Perspective. Action and Reaction. Winner and Loser don't comprehend the happiness equation. Win-Win and Tolerance and Understanding are the only way. We do have to defend ourselves from those who need education or are handicapped mentally and can't comprehend. The ignorant and the young and inexperienced. The injustices need redressing. Women need to feel their rights are upheld, but so do Men. Hatred of gender is not acceptable on either side. Stephen Harper is facing the post world war II Winston Churchill syndrome. He has lost an important battle and his credibility is in question. He failed to raise the morale of the people. People need to think about freedom from oppression again, and demand openness and accountability. They need to pursue happiness again. If its always too serious, and they always judge on that metric, no one will ever be content , satisfied or happy! We need to recognize original wit and historical perspective. Life is a merry go round and a swing set and a roundabout and an intersection. Right now we've swung too far right and the left is about to swing back into place, and then the right will swing back into place later on. Democracy doesn't exist without this fundamental principle. Some would say it doesn't exist at all, but that's a bit too cynical. Its better than the Gulag. Lets hope we can really reform GDP and achieve something along the lines of GDH while addressing Ocean Acidity Climate Shock and Climate Shock in General.
Can we build an engine or power plant that emits no CO2 and saves us from Ocean Acidity Climate Shock?
http://www.thenakedscientists.com/...