Gross National Happiness
The Booty Shaking Breakthrough in Bhutan
It’s happened. Finally the breakthrough in governmental thinking for the future has taken its first step. Commodity driven economics are on tier with humanistic qualities, at least in one part of the world. Nestled in the bosom of the Himalayas, Bhutan has implemented the first policy of Gross National Happiness. Happiness may have many different meanings, but Bhutan has developed criteria that one would be hard pressed to argue against. Traditionally, Gross Domestic Product is the meter of progress used to measure the sum of all goods and services. Gross National Happiness uses this, yes, but only as it relates to the health of the people. In this way, well-being and progress are fused into a sustainable, teamwork oriented process working towards contentment. This concept of Gross National Happiness is crucial in forging a civically intelligent future.
Industry and technology have undoubtedly lifted the antique burdens of survival to those who have access to them, but there are many in the world who are left without these benefits. Along with the ill effects that these processes have had on the environment, humans are faced with novel burdens that require adjustment to the modern modes of existence. A radical revolution of violence and dissemination is not needed. More productive would be an approach that tweaks a few fundamental variables in an established and proven system. We look to sociological evolution rather than revolution. For instance, fully converting to clean renewable energies would offset carbon emissions and prevent further ecological devastation. Providing universal health care would get vital medicinal technologies to the impoverished and needy. The first step in making these changes is with the economics in place. Capitalism has proven fruitful for some, while at the same time disappointing to the point of devastating for most. Again, an overthrow of the system is not needed. Bhutan’s model serves as a perfect example of how a few amendments to GDP will profoundly alter the outcomes of economic policy.
