Is worldwide sustainable happiness possible?

[graywarrior]

And how would that affect US interests?

This is part of an essay question and so far the only thing I can come up with is making sure everyone has the basic human needs required for having a decent existence.

Any suggestions?

[AngryAmish]

1. No. Individual happiness is largely a function of genetics.

Look it up.

[graywarrior]

2. I read an article about a psychologist who created a world happiness map

In a survey he conducted in Britain, 80% responded that they thought the government should do things to make them happy.

[PoliSSHat]

3. Legalize it. Nuff said. Everyone will be happy. n/t

[graywarrior]

4. Legalize what? Basic needs or happiness?

[PoliSSHat]

5. Really? Think hard. Its green and it comes in leaf form....n/t

[graywarrior]

14. I included that in my essay!!!! LOL!!!!

:rofl:

[Blue Owl]

15. +1

:smoke:

[pipi_k]

6. I think it's a bit like individual happiness...

even if people generally have what they need, some will always want more. And more. And even more.

Some people are never happy no matter how much they have, and since the world is made up of ordinary human beings, I don't think world happiness is sustainable, let alone possible.

But then, I'm just an old cynic.

[The2ndWheel]

7. Just thinking about the effort that would be needed to make everyone happy

makes me depressed. There isn't the international infrastructure needed to even attempt to consider the possibility of maybe doing that at some time in the future.

Worldwide sustainable happiness. You're going to have so many definitions of the word happiness, which may change from time to time, and you're going to have to satisfy each one of them, in every detail, all the time, in a "sustainable" way. Hell, why not try to physically move the actual sun when we feel like doing it?

[Newest Reality]

8. How about a philosophy break?

Happiness equals the fulfillment of all desires. The way you achieve this is by reducing your desires to the point where you can fulfill them.

~ Epicurus
Born 341 BCE
Died circa 270 BCE ~

[mdmc]

22. 1

[jotsy]

9. If happiness is an exclusive term, I have to say no. But let's talk about the components.

The primary ingredient for me has to be viability, it's like flour, you can do a cake, biscuits, pie crust, it depends on what choices you make from there, it depends on what peripheral materials are available. A lack of happiness can be about someone charging so much for that bag of flour that your options for those peripherals become narrow and limited. Consider the essay question from the position of what impedes happiness, and your pen might push the squiggle line a little further. My bet is, your answer will come down to this, the nature of envy in human kind is it's own biggest obstacle as to contentedness of the heart.

There are going to be days we encounter challenge searching for the lighter side of ourselves. Can't know the depth of love for the sun without knowing a little rain, or something like that is an old saying I remember hearing as a kid, not so much anymore.

If US interests are not in keeping with what is best for a planetary public, then I would tend to wonder why that would be what we're interested in.

[graywarrior]

31. What a great response!

Thank you!

[gratuitous]

10. No

Because it makes any number of people unhappy when someone else they don't like is happy. Or even has their basic needs taken care of. For some people, success is not enough; others must fail. Specific, named others must fail. And they must fail in a prescribed manner with definite consequences, or there will be unhappiness.

[madinmaryland]

11. Only if you FREE THE DUCK!

:rofl:

[Subdivisions]

13. That poor duck. He's been trying to get loose of that duct tape for so long... n/t

[graywarrior]

30. If I wasn't so busy doing homework, I'd respond to you

[Subdivisions]

12. Basic human needs:

Water
Food
Fire
Shelter
Companionship


That's it. I realize arguments can be made about other "necessities", like healthcare. But we can survive and have enriched lives with only those things I listed.

[graywarrior]

16. That is what I am basing my opinion on.

I have practically nothing except the basics, but I am pretty happy with that. I do not need much more except to complete my degree. If people who have nothing were given the opportunity to receive the basic human needs, then they'd be happier until they start wanting more.

[Subdivisions]

17. It's the wanting more that caused that oil disaster in the Gulf. n/t

[kenny blankenship]

18. This isn't one of those "just put Ecstasy in the water supply" posts, is it?

I thought we were past that sort of thing.

[graywarrior]

20. Hmmmm.

That just might work...lol.

[Echo In Light]

19. REPORT FROM IRON MOUNTAIN: On the Possibility and Desirability of Peace

Food for thought ...

http://www.thirdworldtraveler.com/New_World_Order/Report_Iron_Mountain.html

[graywarrior]

26. That has some really good info.

Looks like I can use some of that. Thank you!

[Echo In Light]

27. Several yrs ago I scored a dvd burn on ebay of one of those conspiracy doc films...

... I'm sure there are still sellers doing it, but the idea used to be they'd get permission from the film's makers, burn disc's and sell em for all of a buck + media shipping, ya know. Good deal. Scored numerous doc films that way yrs ago.

Anyway, on one such occasion the seller included a bizarre, six hr long doc film re this 'report from Iron Mt.' Looks to have been made in the 1980s, and while I'd heard of the notorious 'report' (book) prior to that, the film laid out a fantastic amount of what was yet to come from Big Brother, Inc. If it was a 'hoax' (and if so, why?) then it remains astonishingly uncanny in its predictions/suggestions.

[mdmc]

21. Yes

Worldwide sustainable happiness is possible.
If we define happiness as the absence of pain and suffering, and we allow for natural ebbs and flows, happiness could easily be sustainable.
There will always be times of pain and suffering. This is part of life.
Happiness is in part a perception of reality.
Change global perceptions, and achieve global happiness.

Even with every need met, happiness is often not achieved. At the same time, a dying person with little of their needs being met can be happy. It is a matter of perception.

Here is a link that describes some keys to happiness -
http://www.livescience.com/health/060227_happiness_keys.html

Imagine if you will what a world would look like where happiness is coveted more then money, power, and sex. In this world happiness would be sustainable.

How would it affect US interests? It would destroy US interests and transform our interests into something available to all, not just the privileged.

[graywarrior]

25. Happiness is the absence of striving for happiness

[mdmc]

28. which could be achieved via a change of perception

correct?

[graywarrior]

29. Sure!

[surrealAmerican]

23. Even individual sustainable happiness is impossible.

Happiness is a comparative state of being: you judge yourself to be happy only compared to times when you are unhappy.

People will always be in positions where they experience loss and unhappiness. It's a normal part of the human condition.

[TheKentuckian]

24. Meh...minus insatiable greed and the desire to dominate the will of others

and I give you a puncher's chance.