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Happy nations don't focus on growth

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Re: Happy nations don't focus on growth

#41

Post by taway_1212 »

losteric wrote: post #38
trynumber9 wrote: post #32

Earlier quoted context omitted.

So, what was the first Red Scare, Sacco and Vanzetti, or the Scopes Trial in the 20s about then? Many of the things you attribute to the Cold War-era were present in the 1920s USA. The biggest difference was isolation.

What's the difference? The first Red Scare was 3 years of isolated domestic violent agitation, and public response was largely focused on those agitators. The second Red Scare was a 50-year ideological war that saturated the nation, a generation raised demonizing concepts as "un-American" before becoming the teachers and politicians of their children. It takes time heal from that dogma.

You seem to be overlooking the fact that, thanks to "that dogma", America is not a part of the Soviet Union today.

Re: Happy nations don't focus on growth

#43

Post by victornomad »

The way of measuring happiness is nonsense

basically asking people, "are you happy?"

There is a gigantic cultural bias. In many cultures people say that they are happy because they are expected to say that they are happy. Itd just a facade. In some others people just dont like to talk about self happiness or they have negative connotations when they talk about it.

I have lived in 5 countries from that list and I find it really hard to say that people from those countries are happier than other countries I've lived in and are not listed.....

anyway lets keep living in hackernews bubble...

Re: Happy nations don't focus on growth

#44

Post by taway_1212 »

taway_1212 wrote: post #41
losteric wrote: post #38

Earlier quoted context omitted.

What's the difference? The first Red Scare was 3 years of isolated domestic violent agitation, and public response was largely focused on those agitators. The second Red Scare was a 50-year ideological war that saturated the nation, a generation raised demonizing concepts as "un-American" before becoming the teachers and politicians of their children. It takes time heal from that dogma.

You seem to be overlooking the fact that, thanks to "that dogma", America is not a part of the Soviet Union today.

Can anyone explain the downvotes? I am not saying that the pro-American propaganda was the only factor that decided that in the end US prevailed over USSR, but it's undeniable that it did contribute.

Re: Happy nations don't focus on growth

#45

Post by aaron695 »

wordsarewind wrote: post #15

Although I'd have to poke around for the specific sources, I've read papers that showed that, in fact, subjective well-being increases continuously with wealth (per capita GDP). However, the increase is not linear, but rather logistic--which makes intuitive sense, since a $5,000 pay raise for an employee making $25,000 a year isn't the same as for one making $100,000. On the other hand, I've also read that the increa…

> $75,000 level doesn't significantly increase emotional well-being

Not true. It actually goes much higher. Admittly quite slow. I think until $150,000.

Re: Happy nations don't focus on growth

#46

Post by afarrell »

pfranz wrote: post #31
Retric wrote: post #16

Earlier quoted context omitted.

That's somewhat misleading in 1800 the US population hit ~5.24 million vs England's ~9.2 million, it had more than doubled over the prior 30 years. Economically and Militarily England was much further ahead. But, unlike Europe the US's wars of conquest and genocide where mostly vs the Native Americans. Consider, Ohio only joined the Union in 1803. By 1870 the US GDP PPP(98,374) was at near parity with the UK (100,180…

Thanks for the background. That's why I thought it was interesting but had some skepticism and want to look more into it. I don't think the average person (including myself) knows enough about our history to be able compare things 50-100 years ago in the US to now. I remember hearing the US has benefited quite a bit by having oceans between us because after the World Wars we didn't have our cities destroyed. I believ…

> we didn't have our cities destroyed

We also were able to sell arms to the allies for two world wars. At the end of WWII we had 80% of the world's gold reserves. This meant that during the Bretton Woods conference, when a bunch of treaties were drafted to require the use of "gold-convertable currency", that was effectively the US Dollar...so they just put "US Dollar" in the final language for clarity and made USD the global reserve currency among other things.

Re: Happy nations don't focus on growth

#48

Post by fulafel »

wordsarewind wrote: post #15

Although I'd have to poke around for the specific sources, I've read papers that showed that, in fact, subjective well-being increases continuously with wealth (per capita GDP). However, the increase is not linear, but rather logistic--which makes intuitive sense, since a $5,000 pay raise for an employee making $25,000 a year isn't the same as for one making $100,000. On the other hand, I've also read that the increa…

Sounds like this would depend a lot on what kind of social safety net is provided by the society. You need a lot more income to feel secure in the US than Sweden, where healthcare/education/pensions are more or less collectively provided.

Re: Happy nations don't focus on growth

#50

Post by petra »

victornomad wrote: post #43

The way of measuring happiness is nonsense basically asking people, "are you happy?" There is a gigantic cultural bias. In many cultures people say that they are happy because they are expected to say that they are happy. Itd just a facade. In some others people just dont like to talk about self happiness or they have negative connotations when they talk about it. I have lived in 5 countries from that list and I find…

Which countries have you lived in, and how would you rate the happiness?

BTW, i'm from Israel, an we're number 2 on the happiness scale! hooray!

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