Federal Government Spends Money Trying to Measure ‘Happiness’
- Posted on March 30, 2012 at 9:30pm by
Mytheos Holt
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It might be common sense that happiness is in the eye of the beholder, but don’t let a little thing like that stand in the way of the Federal Government spending money to try to quantify it. A new study being undertaken by the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services is dedicated to trying to put a number to the amount of happiness any given person feels. Why the government wants to study topic has not been explained, though presumably, it could be applied to manipulating poll numbers.
One potential reason why the study is being done is due to widespread dissatisfaction among liberal social scientists with the prevailing idea that Gross National Product (GNP), or Gross Domestic Product (GDP), are good approximations for national happiness. The Washington Post, which caught this story, quotes a Robert Kennedy speech on this topic.
“Our gross national product, if we should judge America by that, counts air pollution and cigarette advertising, and ambulances to clear our highways of carnage . . .it measures everything, in short, except that which makes life worthwhile,” Robert Kennedy said in a 1968 speech.
In other words, GDP is just too objective and economics-focused for HHS, which wants to measure feelings. Certainly President Obama has welcomed the effort, to the point of naming a researcher on the concept of happiness, Alan Krueger, to be Chair of the Council of Economic Advisers.
The Post picks up the story from here:
According to proponents, a measure of happiness could help assess the success or failure of a range of government policies. It could gauge the virtues of a health benefit or establish whether education has more value than simply higher incomes. It might also detect extremes of inequality or imbalances in how people divide their time between work and leisure.
“The phrase ‘pursuit of happiness’ is in the Declaration of Independence, so it’s not a huge stretch to say we might want to measure life satisfaction,” said panel member Carol Graham, a senior fellow at the Brookings Institution and the author of a book on the topic.[...]
In Britain, Prime Minister David Cameron has embraced the idea, and last year the government began asking survey respondents things like “Overall, how happy did you feel yesterday?” and “Overall, how satisfied are you with your life nowadays?” The U.K. Economic and Social Research Council is also funding the U.S. panel’s $370,000 budget. In France, President Nicolas Sarkozy in 2008 launched a commission including two Nobel winners, Joseph Stiglitz and Amartya Sen, which opined that the “time is ripe for our measurement system to shift emphasis from measuring economic production to measuring people’s well-being.”
Reportedly, a number of methodological approaches have been proposed to try to measure “happiness.” Most of them contain obvious methodological problems, but the government experts responsible for this study are presumably prepared to try to iron those out.
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Comments (51)
progressiveslayer
Posted on March 31, 2012 at 8:36amWhen our Marxist in chief is fired I’ll be very happy and many millions will be as well.
Report Post »SamIamTwo
Posted on March 31, 2012 at 8:26amFederal employees lost their collective bargaining under Carter, lost their pension plan under Regan in 1983.
The states are the ones that are costing you…DoD downsized to the point that the remaining people were doing everything with no one…it is all contracted out. A Regan program that ran unchecked. And you not only pay the same labor costs but you pay for the companies, OverHead Costs, G&A and Profit…and they say it is cheaper? I know better.
And if a Federal Emplyee retires under the old system and also has 40 credits in SS, thier is a Windfall Elimination Provision form 1977 that reduces SS…I agree with that part
Totally disagree with GPO, Government Pension Offset. When a federal employee dies, the spouse’s SS is compared to her 55% of her deceased husbands annuity and ends up with NO SS and just 55% of the husband’s annuity.
In all cases the GPO puts the widow into poverty and she will apply for government subsistence…for which you will pay.
The GPO formula was intended to be similar to a married couple where both are earning SS annuity. It isn’t, it is a penalty for those who did not convert to the new retirement system
Retired federal employees that I know are getting back into the workforce…it’s not as great as some believe…but give me a city, county or state job and I would be living HIGH off the HOG!!!!
I am speaking for DoD but this does apply to all agencies…now other agencies have grown substantially, especially the soc
Report Post »SamIamTwo
Posted on March 31, 2012 at 8:14amThey should have paid off everyone’s mortgage. LOL…but that too causes a ripple.
Report Post »starman70
Posted on March 31, 2012 at 8:33amI’d be a helluva lot happier if the government stopped wasting tax money on assenine and inane studies. Taxpayers should revolt and demand Congress put a stop to all these stupid programs.
Report Post »Cat
Posted on March 31, 2012 at 9:21amRead a lot of complaining about how asinine the government is.
Report Post »What do people expect?
The majority of the government is comprised of people who have no clue how to produce anything, so they threaten to destroy productive people’s lives if they don’t pay the government what they say is theirs in the first place.
The government is nothing more then organized crime.
Who are the idiots here?
Stop paying the gang folks
wntsmallgov
Posted on April 1, 2012 at 12:13amIt would have been cheaper if they paid for everyone’s morgage and most likely would have gotten out of this slump faster. But I have heard that the US government is letting this happen so we as a Nation can give China the next 200 yr rule over us.
Report Post »barber2
Posted on March 31, 2012 at 7:25amThis is what a Democrat call “job creation,“ but which a conservative would define as ” a big waste of tax payers’ funds.”
Report Post »Itsjusttim
Posted on March 31, 2012 at 1:54amWhen you work for a master for 6 years with the master’s promise to be released in the 7th year, but the master presents you with a wife, but you choose the wife over freedom, you’re still owned by the master. You all like to go draw fresh water from the twisted well in about the 6th hour.
Report Post »Itsjusttim
Posted on March 31, 2012 at 1:47amI don’t see much less abomination in the fore-mentioned than I see in eating virgin boy eggs in China.
Report Post »Itsjusttim
Posted on March 31, 2012 at 1:44amAnd when they get a little discontent because they don’t like what you have in one hand, then hold out your other hand, and they will lick their chops, wag their tail while panting while their tongue hangs out wanting the shiny new thing.
Report Post »Just in time
Posted on March 31, 2012 at 12:47amI think maybe I can save the tax-payers a lot of money, so here goes. The founding fathers said the right to own property. But changed it to the pursuit of happiness. Which means the same thing really. Study concluded.
Report Post »wvernon1981
Posted on March 31, 2012 at 1:40amThe right to own property and the pursuit of happiness are not necessarily the same thing. The right to pursue property is a subset of the pursuit of happiness. Property may work for some but it doesn’t necessarily work for everyone as a means to happiness.
Report Post »asybot12
Posted on March 31, 2012 at 5:30am@just, My study: To the Gov. …Get the hell out of my life! The end just send the money, thanks!
Report Post »lukerw
Posted on March 31, 2012 at 8:55pmYou are right… but, they expanded the Concept to ‘pursuit of happiness’… to mean to Advance by one’s own Ability & Talent, achieving success (which includes all forms of wealth)!
Report Post »Searchingforthelight
Posted on March 31, 2012 at 12:38amIn order to measure happiness they must be measuring unhappiness as well. Lets see,
Report Post »how do you cause confusion, anger, frustration ect. Maybe with a cell phone application, maybe
computer software. GPS navigational control, media propaganda ect. Does that mean that the subjects will receive compensation for their time?
Byrdi
Posted on March 31, 2012 at 12:31amThe constitution says we have the right to pursue happiness. It doesn’t guarantee we will be happy and there is no way it could. When the left thinks of happiness, they seem to equate it with Utopian ideals rather than a state of mind. The results of this study could show about 40% of the population as being unhappy but how is that defined anyway? Do people focus on the things they should be grateful for or do they focus on what they feel is beyond their reach? Hopefully they define exactly what happiness is to each person.
Report Post »Searchingforthelight
Posted on March 31, 2012 at 12:39amMaybe they should look at where all the unhappiness is coming from and fix the problem!
Report Post »Paul
Posted on March 30, 2012 at 11:59pmhttp://www.breitbart.com/Big-Government/2012/03/30/Hoodie-Wearing-Gunmen-Kill-1-Wound-5-in-Rushs-Chicago-District
Report Post »sodacrackers2
Posted on March 30, 2012 at 11:52pmDon’t feel bad, I was banned by Reuters and it still makes me laugh. Getting banned by huffpo is a badge of honor! As soon as aol bought huffpo, I bolted aol. :)
Report Post »sodacrackers2
Posted on March 30, 2012 at 11:49pmThey are looking for a way to gather all the happiness and then divide it up equally so it is fair to all! Don’t tell them that happiness is between your two ears and has nothing to do with how much money you have.
Report Post »ZengaPA65
Posted on March 31, 2012 at 12:28amRight on.
Report Post »Psychosis
Posted on March 30, 2012 at 11:06pmwhat is it with liberals and their dependence on FEELINGS ??????
Report Post »burnbabylon
Posted on March 30, 2012 at 11:54pmUnder the “Right to Not be Offended” amendment to Obamacare, your profile picture, while hilarious, offends idiots, and is therefore illegal according to the Hedonist Equation of the Totalitarian Utilitarian Religious Doctrine, (HE-TURD).
Report Post »lukerw
Posted on March 30, 2012 at 10:36pmThe National Formula for Happiness is: (‘National Debt’ + ‘National Deficit’ + ‘Fed Res Books’) / GNP. And, the Scale of Happiness is: 0 = Fantastic; 1 = OK; 2 or more = Bad!
Report Post »llotus
Posted on March 30, 2012 at 10:24pmThey need to be measureing the level of pain. Lesson the pain people are feeling in these hard times and happiness will follow. Conservative in 2012 will help. Lotus.
Report Post »CatB
Posted on March 30, 2012 at 10:27pmThe MISERY index during the Carter years .. needs to be measured AGAIN .. under the Obama years …
Report Post »mrsmileyface
Posted on March 30, 2012 at 10:23pmCOMING SOON to a TV near you……. The “Malaise” Speech part 2.
Report Post »ALL4FREEDOM
Posted on March 30, 2012 at 10:06pmHow satisfied am I with my life today? I’m mad as hell, and can’t wait for the November elections. My idea of happiness? Nobama, along with a vetoproof conservative majority in the House and Senate, and a Federal bureaucracy reduced by at least 75%. Now THAT’S happiness.
Report Post »13th Imam
Posted on March 30, 2012 at 10:21pmDittoes
Report Post »progressiveslayer
Posted on March 31, 2012 at 8:37amAgreed
Report Post »possom
Posted on March 30, 2012 at 9:53pmGive me back the state and local tax‘s I’ve wasted on this gov in the last 50 yr‘s and I’ll show you happy!
Report Post »CatB
Posted on March 30, 2012 at 10:28pmAMEN!
c
Report Post »13th Imam
Posted on March 30, 2012 at 9:41pmThat shuck and jive grin president devaluation wears, is a good indicator of his happiness at Killing America. Same grin that most DEMOCRAT”S wear.
Report Post »83plus
Posted on March 30, 2012 at 9:40pmGee thanks, I’ve been wondering what my happiness level is. Pathetic, and they wonder why the unemployment rate is still above eight percent.
Report Post »go2gym
Posted on March 30, 2012 at 9:36pmHow much are we paying for this BULL CRAP?????? $1 is too much!
Report Post »HorseCrazy
Posted on March 30, 2012 at 9:35pmstopped reading after the words “feelings” and “inequality” oh puke get over your feelings grow a pair and quit wasting my tax dollars.
Report Post »Mark0331
Posted on March 30, 2012 at 9:34pmImagine Barry quoting the ‘smile index’ to tell us that the economy is ‘strong and recovering’? No doubt he could do it with a straight face…sociopath that he is.
Report Post »Darmok and Jalad at Tanagra
Posted on March 30, 2012 at 9:34pmSo money doesn’t buy happiness, but it measures it? Isn’t that ironic.
Report Post »83plus
Posted on March 30, 2012 at 9:44pmMoney doesn’t buy happiness? No wonder I’m still glum.
Report Post »USAMEDIC3008
Posted on March 30, 2012 at 10:09pmThe Measure fo happiness is
Report Post »6 inches long
2.5 inches wide
and has a head like Ben Franklin
TO the bank.with arms open
MAMMY_NUNN
Posted on March 31, 2012 at 12:09amMoney doesn’t buy happiness
Report Post »Quick someone inform the Libs !