Happiness, health and stability are not core objectives of our society. The production of wealth, as measured by GDP, or by the stock markets, or consumer spending, is our yardstick of success. I hope that in the remainder of the century we can can transition to better forms of society where the health and happiness of the general population is more important than the efficiency of our economic structures.
I always used to believe happiness was the most important thing for a society. Then I read Brave new world. Happiness taken to extremes. Now I'm not so sure.
I find that we combine too many things into our word happiness. We combine joy, pleasure, satisfaction, excitement, comfort, etc etc. Happiness to me often loses meaning since the happiness that I strive for, satisfaction at building things is completely different than that of others. Brave new world is very much a happiness of instant gratification as well as contentment in your place in society. I would say that happiness of this sort is very unhealthy for a society that has advancement as one of it's goals.