Gross National Happiness
Gross national happiness now in Bhutan
is the goal, and not gross national product;
happiness great but not gross is my plan,
and the bottom line I’ve always buttocked.
Naturally there will be many naysayers
who claim that this line is fallacious,
but bottoms like summits of high Himalayas
aren’t gross when they’re firm and curvaceous.
Inspired by an article on Bhutan in the NYT on Bhutan by Seth Mydans in Thimphu (“Recalculating Happiness in a Himalayan Kingdom, ” May 8,2009) :
If the rest of the world cannot get it right in these unhappy times, this tiny Buddhist kingdom high in the Himalayan mountains says it is working on an answer. “Greed, insatiable human greed, ” said Prime Minister Jigme Thinley of Bhutan, describing what he sees as the cause of today’s economic catastrophe in the world beyond the snow-topped mountains. “What we need is change, ” he said in the whitewashed fortress where he works. “We need to think gross national happiness.” The notion of gross national happiness was the inspiration of the former king, Jigme Singye Wangchuck, in the 1970s as an alternative to the gross national product. Now, the Bhutanese are refining the country’s guiding philosophy into what they see as a new political science, and it has ripened into government policy just when the world may need it, said Kinley Dorji, secretary of information and communications. “You see what a complete dedication to economic development ends up in, ” he said, referring to the global economic crisis. “Industrialized societies have decided now that G.N.P. is a broken promise.” Under a new Constitution adopted last year, government programs — from agriculture to transportation to foreign trade — must be judged not by the economic benefits they may offer but by the happiness they produce. The goal is not happiness itself, the prime minister explained, a concept that each person must define for himself. Rather, the government aims to create the conditions for what he called, in an updated version of the American Declaration of Independence, “the pursuit of gross national happiness.”
5/8/09
poem by Gershon Hepner
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Related quotes
In its best prewar year, Europe with almost 300 million people had a gross national product of 150 billion dollars. In that same year, the United States with 150 million people had a gross national product of 300 billion dollars.
quote by Paul Hoffman
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So-called defense now absorbs sixty per cent of the national budget, and about twelve per cent of the Gross National Product.
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Could a government dare to set out with happiness as its goal? Now that there are accepted scientific proofs, it would be easy to audit the progress of national happiness annually, just as we monitor money and GDP.
quote by Polly Toynbee
Submitted by Lucian Velea
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A Degree
What value
a degree?
A degree is only
worth
what the market
can pay.
Paid from gross national product
a country produces.*
All education is down time... though
a necessary economic luxury.
There is also
credential inflation.**
Redundant technologies
new research techniques
undermining this value.
This is a degrees
financial value.
A degree
is a recognized
level of ignorance.
A measured graded
accounting of markers;
approved component knowledge,
research skills and diction.
Graduate, Honours, Masters, Ph.d.,
in a limited specialized area.
A degree may also
have an egotistical value
be necessary for a career
or needed self esteem.
This is a degrees
intrinsic value.***
If a degree is
necessary to you
it is worth something
essentially valuable
if not a degree
is nothing
but wasted
unfocused effort.
The value of a degree
unspecified unidentified
an approximate amount
expressing time in relation
to specific numbers
qualities opportunities
a phenomenon key
awaiting recipient action.
* In the 1990’s in any developed country at least one third of the population was involved in education annually. This percentage included all students from preschool through to universities, all apprenticeships and technological training or up skilling, research, development and associated dependent industries, and all personal teaching these skills. The cost of all this on going education had to be paid for from the gross national product a country produced.
** This equates to more degrees equals inferior jobs and salaries. An example is the United Kingdom in the 1970’s when 4% of the population obtained a degree compared to the 1990’s when 30% did.
*** Inherent; belonging to the nature of a thing; essential; real.
poem by Terence George Craddock
Submitted by Poetry Lover
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What Happiness Is
happiness
is bliss
happiness,
is when you get a new puppy
happiness,
is when you get married
happiness,
is when you go on you first date
happiness,
is making your own decisions
happiness,
is graduating
happiness,
is getting you first job
happiness,
is falling in love
happiness
is being proud of who you are
happiness
is bliss
happiness,
is glowing
happiness,
is fun
happiness,
is an amazing feeling
happiness,
is when you smile all day
happiness,
is giving someone a hug just because you can
happiness,
is that light in your eyes
happiness,
is what makes the world go around
happiness,
is bliss
Happiness
Happiness is my high.
Happiness feels great inside.
Happiness is quite rare.
Happiness is barely there.
Happiness comes when I am around friends.
Happiness always ends.
Happiness I want more.
Happiness I adore.
Happiness is when my mom calls.
Happiness is when watching waterfalls.
Happiness is my high.
Happiness feels good inside.
poem by Jean Pullman
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And so in terms of territorial control, in terms of economic preeminence, the western share of the gross world product is declining as Asian societies in particular develop economically.
quote by Samuel P. Huntington
Submitted by Lucian Velea
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Happiness Is A Warm Gun (Danny Saber Remix)
Happiness is a warm gun
Happiness is a warm gun
She's not a girl who misses much
She's not a girl who misses much
Mother Superior jump the gun
Mother Superior jump the gun
Mother Superior jump the gun
Mother Superior jump the gun
Happiness is a warm gun
Happiness is a warm gun
She's well acquainted with the touch of the velvet hand
Like a lizard on a window pane
The man in the crowd
With the multicoloured mirrors on his hobnail boots
Lying with his eyes wide open
And the hands busy working overtime
A soap impression of his wife which he ate
And donated to the National Trust
Hey, I need a fix 'cause I'm going down
Happiness is a, a warm gun
Happiness is a, a warm gun
Happiness is a, a warm gun
Happiness is a warm gun
Happiness is a warm gun
Happiness is a warm gun
I need a fix cause I'm going down
I need a fix cause I'm going down
I need a fix cause I'm going down
To the bits that I left uptown
I need a fix cause I'm going down, uptown
Need a fix cause I'm going down, uptown
Happiness is a, a warm gun
Happiness is a, a warm gun
Happiness is a, a warm gun
Happiness is a warm gun
Happiness is a warm gun
[Repeat until end]
song performed by by U2
Submitted by Lucian Velea
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Happiness Is A Warm Gun
Happiness is a warm gun
Happiness is a warm gun
Shes not a girl who misses much
Shes not a girl who misses much
Mother superior jump the gun
Mother superior jump the gun
Mother superior jump the gun
Mother superior jump the gun
Happiness is a warm gun
Happiness is a warm gun
Shes well acquainted with the touch of the velvet hand
Like a lizard on a window pane
The man in the crowd
With the multicoloured mirrors on his hobnail boots
Lying with his eyes wide open
And the hands busy working overtime
A soap impression of his wife which he ate
And donated to the national trust
Hey, I need a fix cause Im going down
Happiness is a, a warm gun
Happiness is a, a warm gun
Happiness is a, a warm gun
Happiness is a warm gun
Happiness is a warm gun
Happiness is a warm gun
I need a fix cause Im going down
I need a fix cause Im going down
I need a fix cause Im going down
To the bits that I left uptown
I need a fix cause Im going down, uptown
Need a fix cause Im going down, uptown
Happiness is a, a warm gun
Happiness is a, a warm gun
Happiness is a, a warm gun
Happiness is a warm gun
Happiness is a warm gun
[repeat until end]
song performed by by U2
Submitted by Lucian Velea
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I'm pretty gross. When I talk I can be gross and crude.
quote by Yvonne Strahovski
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We have always had gross humor. But we try for funny, not gross.
quote by Shawn Wayans
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Grace the world with your glow of happiness
Do not chase happiness
Search within you
There are lot many things
Inside you
Which have reasons
To make you happy
You pursuit or search for happiness outside
Does not take you anywhere
As what seemingly has a stock of happiness
Once you reach or achieve it
You realize that happiness
Lies further ahead somewhere
And you hunt for happiness
Takes a new turn
And this goes on and on
Only to make you understand
That you are back in square one
Devoid of happiness, your original search
Happiness, thus, cannot be anywhere else
But within you
Do not be on a stealthy stalk for happiness
Simply because others do so
Search within and discover
The happiness in you
Do not be on a race for happiness
But grace the world
With the glow of
Happiness within you
poem by Bashyam Narayanan
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Inside my happiness...
Inside my happiness, there is nothing but happiness for me.
Inside my happiness, the colors are so bright and vivid and I am able to see everything clearly.
Inside my happiness, there were no dark times because in my happiness the sun always shines.
Inside my happiness, there is no pain, there is no fear and there certainly is no doubt.
Inside my happiness, we all live as one and there is peace for all beings.
Inside my happiness, there is God and he has planned all of this for me.
Inside my happiness, addiction never happend.
Inside my happiness, there are no sorrows and no tears for the hurt doesnt exist.
Inside my happiness, there is you, and you are everything.
Inside my happiness, there is a woman who is ready for life.
Inside my happiness, there is nothing but happiness for me.
poem by Amber Swiney
Submitted by Poetry Lover
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Happiness
What is happiness?
Happiness is complete bliss.
Happiness is eating ice cream with extra cookie dough.
Happiness is reading an intense novel.
Happiness is being cured of depression.
Happiness is jumping up &down for no good reason and watching peoples faces light up with joy on seeing u acting crazy
Happiness is the felling u get when u help the guy u might have a crush on get the girl he wants.
Happiness is making sure evreyone around u is happy before u r.
Happiness is crying all that bottled up stress away.
HAPPINESS IS COVERING UP YOUR PAIN SO PEOPLE CAN THINK YOUR HAPPY, TO BE HAPPY
Happiness is seeing the cute smile of 'the guy 'who is in your science class.
Happiness ios seeing 'that guy'act like an idiot so many times my stomach hurts from laughing to hard
Happiness is seeing your 2 year old brother hug &kiss ur 3 month year old sister
Happiness is looking at the extravigent stars and plants at night
Happiness is seeing the 'O Matra Luna, Regina Noces '-o mother moon queen of the night
Happiness is happiness there is no other way to explain it better = ]
poem by Beth Vasquez
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The ultimate end is a nation that lies under the concept of the Declaration of Indepen dence. The Declaration of Independence is such an extraordinary statement - it was designed by people skeptical of government, local or national, but in particular national.
quote by Malcolm Wallop
Submitted by Lucian Velea
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Inside my happiness
Inside my happiness, there is nothing
But happiness for me
Inside my happiness, the colours are
So bright and vivid and i am able
To see everything clearly
Inside my happiness, there was no
Dark times because in my happiness
The sun always shines
Inside my happiness, there is no
Pain, there is no fear
And there is certainly no doubt
Inside my happiness, we all live as
One and there is peace
For all beings
Inside my happiness, addiction never happened
Inside my happiness, there are no sorrows
And no tears, so the hurt doesn’t exist
Inside my happiness, there is god
And he planned all this for me
Inside my happiness, there is nothing
But happiness for me
poem by Maryam Kazmi
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Happiness To Me
Does Happiness depend upon comfort? ’
The answer is definitely a big, ‘No! ’
Happiness lies in not comforts alone!
Happiness is not a static quality of the
human mind, body and soul.
All can’t remain happy all the time.
It would be foolishness to wish for a life,
filled with happiness alone;
Life could become boring, when happiness is prolonged.
Even A pauper can be happier than the prince.
Even A beggar smiles and sleeps well, despite much strife.
Happiness is a frame of mind that’s dynamic in nature;
Happiness is a kind of mood of feeling very well;
Happiness is a state of one, when life seems worth living;
Happiness is all within;
Happiness is in giving;
Happiness is in sharing;
Happiness does not depend on comforts;
Happiness cannot be bought by money;
Happiness is not all luxury;
Happiness is in being child-like, though adult;
Happiness is in sacrificing for others’ sake;
Happiness is in doing acts of charity;
Happiness is when you’ve led a righteous life.
Happiness to some is in dreams alone;
Happiness to some doing risky feats;
Happiness to a few is in a sheer lazy life;
Happiness to me is in loving.
poem by Richard Maginness
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Hyena Road [Hold Up]
Rossif Sutherland, Paul Gross, Allan Hawco
by Paul Gross from Hyena Road (2015)
Submitted by Veronica Serbanoiu
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Housing has led our nation's economic expansion over the past few years, accounting for 16 percent of our Gross Domestic Product. New housing starts and home sales hit record levels from 2003 through 2005.
quote by Randy Neugebauer
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Hyena Road
Rossif Sutherland, Paul Gross, Christine Horne, Clark Johnson, Allan Hawco, Jennifer Pudavick, David Richmond-Peck, Nikki Duval
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