TED Conversations

Daniel London

This conversation is closed. Start a new conversation
or join one »

Is Happiness a conservative, status-quo concept?

"Money can't buy happiness". Many of us think this statement is more or less true. But what are the broader implications of this statement? After all, if "the pursuit of happiness" is delayed by acquiring wealth, than why should the government be promoting initiatives to raise the economic tide through assistance to business OR welfare policies? In other words, is the pursuit of Happiness a fundamentally conservative, status-quo idea? An interesting article on this subject is posted below - but what do you think?
http://www.spiked-online.com/site/article/13233/

Related Talks:
Topics: conservative consumption economic happiness
+1
Share:

Showing single comment thread. View the full conversation.

  • Cedric Charlier

    • 0
    Jan 16 2013: The pursuit of happiness is definitely not a solely conservative idea, but a fundamental political and human idea. Hope and the striving for a better state is a bipartisan. Poor economic standing doesn't help anyone. Both republicans and democrats can agree that poor economic status creates frustration and resentment among the people, thus there is unhappiness within their political base. Democrats believe in a level playing field where everyone is helped and able to benefit from a thriving economy. I do not believe that money necessarily buys happiness, but it definitely helps (to a certain extent). Democrats believe in sharing everyone's money to invest in public infrastructure so that everyone's status of living is raised, thus we have happier people. The idea that one should be able to hoard and keep millions of dollars for one’s self, without fairly giving back is a republican idea ->given the bush tax cuts for the very wealthy. At that level, more money does not buy more happiness. The ideas of what brings happiness, and how government should go about helping all to achieve happiness, differ between political parties, but they both believe in the American economy to help increase happiness. In present day American society, one cannot hope to be happy and comfortable without a steady flow of income. Happiness for all is happiness for all. We as a society are only as strong as our weakest link.

Showing single comment thread. View the full conversation.