Dave's £2 million 'Happiness Fund'

[Bulletguy]

Dave is to spend £2 million to find out how happy we all are and how he can make us all more happy.

 

In case any get a bit confused, the word 'happy' is avoided. I suppose it's not cool enough. They have a new word for it now......it's called 'well being'. Those of you on the board still in the work environment will have heard this batty buzz word being banded around.

 

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-11833241

 

http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-1332937/Cameron-launches-2million-quest-measure-Britains-happiness.html

 

 

 

[Tony Jones]

Misunderstood the thread title - AGAIN. :-S

I though it was Dave Newell appealing for contributions, so I clicked on it to respond appropriately - but it turns out to be just another "have a go at the govt" thread so I won't bother. :D

[Porky]

Tony Jones - 2010-11-25 3:04 PM

 

but it turns out to be just another "have a go at the govt" thread so I won't bother. :D

 

I agree many of these recent posts are becoming a bit tedious. No more from me either.

[602]

Hi,

 

My father always said it was the Governments job to keep the rich rich, and the poor happy.

 

602

[MandyAndy]

You really need to get on MHF Bullet there are a few of them on there that would give you a run for your money.

 

Personally never been interested in politics but each to their own. :-D

 

Mandy

[Mel B]

... where to you think he came from Mandy ... they'd had enough of him I think! :D

[Brian Kirby]

Being rather slow, this has only just occurred to me.  In the same vein as the appointment of the "official" photographer for DC, is this research not something that should properly be funded by the political parties, rather than by the state?

The outcome is bound to be used for the next election, with all of them saying vote for me, I'll make you happy, and we have the research to prove it.

Which reminds me.  Two friends of mine and I were walking at the top of Wardour Street one evening in December, after evening classes, when we spotted an attractive woman wearing a fur coat standing by a well lit shopfront.  As we looked across the road at her - as you do when you're twenty something - she looked back at us, and called over the she could make us happy.  Then she opened the fur coat.  Well!  Not a stitch!!  We were still laughing when we got to Charing Cross!  Perhaps DC could try that approach, you never know, it might work.  :-D

[malc d]

Brian Kirby - 2010-11-26 7:18 PM

Being rather slow, this has only just occurred to me.  In the same vein as the appointment of the "official" photographer for DC, is this research not something that should properly be funded by the political parties, rather than by the state?

The outcome is bound to be used for the next election, with all of them saying vote for me, I'll make you happy, and we have the research to prove it.

Which reminds me.  Two friends of mine and I were walking at the top of Wardour Street one evening in December, after evening classes, when we spotted an attractive woman wearing a fur coat standing by a well lit shopfront.  As we looked across the road at her - as you do when you're twenty something - she looked back at us, and called over the she could make us happy.  Then she opened the fur coat.  Well!  Not a stitch!!  We were still laughing when we got to Charing Cross!  Perhaps DC could try that approach, you never know, it might work.  :-D

DC in a fur coat ?No, I don't think so. ;-)

[art338]

Porky,

 

then make some interesting suggestions

 

art

[Bulletguy]

Brian Kirby - 2010-11-26 7:18 PM

In the same vein as the appointment of the "official" photographer for DC, is this research not something that should properly be funded by the political parties, rather than by the state?

 

It doesn't take much working out Brian and certainly does not need any money spent dreaming up ways to make people happy. A bit of leg work out on the streets of their constituencies will soon give them the answers for free......but that means facing ordinary joe public.

 

It's that time of year again where companies terminate thousands of casual workers with little or no prospect of re-employment. Some full time workers also face redundancy. People left worrying about how they are going to meet their bills with utility costs forever soaring despite plenty of profit.

 

 

[Porky]

art338 - 2010-11-26 8:32 PM

 

Porky,

 

then make some interesting suggestions

 

art

 

I do not see this forum as a platform for political idealism. My only observation on this issue, as it has been worded here, (one could say in a biased fashion) is that it looks like another example of a possible good idea being dismissed too quickly. What if it had been described as DC wants to know what people value in their lives? Wouldn't that be a reasonable thing to want to find out? The results might actually shape political thinking whatever party are in power. Surely if care of the elderly is more important to you than reduction in income tax then is it not a good idea if this feeling is understood, valued and acted upon? Please don't come back and say ah yes but will it be acted on. Why not give it a chance and wait and see.

 

Roy Fuller

[nightrider]

I would say the government deserve to be got at, they are not doing a very good job are they?

[nightrider]

Porky - 2010-11-25 3:35 PM

 

Tony Jones - 2010-11-25 3:04 PM

 

but it turns out to be just another "have a go at the govt" thread so I won't bother. :D

 

I agree many of these recent posts are becoming a bit tedious. No more from me either.

Well why dont you send in one or two posts of interest then? simples

[Porky]

knight of the road - 2010-11-27 9:51 AM

 

I would say the government deserve to be got at, they are not doing a very good job are they?

 

Better than the last lot, and that doesn't make me a conservative or LibDem, just a sensible thinking individual with an open mind.>:-)

[Porky]

knight of the road - 2010-11-27 9:54 AM

 

Porky - 2010-11-25 3:35 PM

 

Tony Jones - 2010-11-25 3:04 PM

 

but it turns out to be just another "have a go at the govt" thread so I won't bother. :D

 

I agree many of these recent posts are becoming a bit tedious. No more from me either.

Well why dont you send in one or two posts of interest then? simples

 

I have if you bother to look.

 

Roy Fuller

[art338]

You can do better than that Roy

[malc d]

The government can never win.

 

People complain that the government never listen to 'the people'.

 

They now have a plan to listen, and people complain that it's a waste of money.

 

 

 

:-(

[nightrider]

Its all well and good that the government saying they will listen to what the people have to say, but will they act on what they hear?

Two million quid down the drain i'm afraid.

[nightrider]

If the government asked what do the people think and the people say we are over taxed, out of work, too many immigrants, a costly unwinnable war in Afghanistan being robbed and ripped off by the banks, hounded by the recycle bin police, harrassed when we drive down the road or park our vehicles up, under constant supervision by CCTV, let down by the courts when they give early release to criminals and murderers, prosecuted by the police if we defend our property from the hoards of villains that are on the look out for an easy pinch, the government will only say we know best you lot know nothing you are only cash cows.

[malc d]

knight of the road - 2010-11-27 1:56 PM

 

Its all well and good that the government saying they will listen to what the people have to say, but will they act on what they hear?

Two million quid down the drain i'm afraid.

 

 

As I understand it this is not an extra 2 million quid.

The survey will be carried out by the Office of National Statisitics who are there already, doing other surveys.

 

As to whether or not the govt. will act on the results - I don't know, but as the results will be due just before the next election, it's possible that they might.

 

 

 

 

:-(

[nightrider]

malc d - 2010-11-27 2:13 PM

 

knight of the road - 2010-11-27 1:56 PM

 

Its all well and good that the government saying they will listen to what the people have to say, but will they act on what they hear?

Two million quid down the drain i'm afraid.

 

 

As I understand it this is not an extra 2 million quid.

The survey will be carried out by the Office of National Statisitics who are there already, doing other surveys.

 

As to whether or not the govt. will act on the results - I don't know, but as the results will be due just before the next election, it's possible that they might.

 

 

 

 

:-(

Two million pounds that could be better spent, is not asking the public what they think similar to a referendum? we all know what happened to other referendums promised, NOWT.

[nightrider]

Its time that the general public used its collective muscle and tells this or any other government that we are not happy, sort out the rot from the top, starting with bent MP's and stop giving our money away to anyone who comes up waving a begging bowl and the money saved can be spent on our front line services, the military, schools, hospitals, police and the fire brigade, any other country falling in the s*** let them sort themselves out and look after our own charity begins at home, if theres anything left we might be able to give them a bob or two.

[malc d]

knight of the road - 2010-11-27 2:24 PM

 

malc d - 2010-11-27 2:13 PM

 

knight of the road - 2010-11-27 1:56 PM

 

Its all well and good that the government saying they will listen to what the people have to say, but will they act on what they hear?

Two million quid down the drain i'm afraid.

 

 

As I understand it this is not an extra 2 million quid.

The survey will be carried out by the Office of National Statisitics who are there already, doing other surveys.

 

As to whether or not the govt. will act on the results - I don't know, but as the results will be due just before the next election, it's possible that they might.

 

 

 

 

:-(

Two million pounds that could be better spent, is not asking the public what they think similar to a referendum? we all know what happened to other referendums promised, NOWT.

 

 

 

These ONS surveys are nothing like a referendum.

 

A referendum says " do you want us do do this ?" and you simply answer yes or no.

 

The ONS ( usually) send someone round to see you. They then ask loads of questions and note your response. It is not a vote.

If you are lucky they will visit you this time and you can tell them all the things that you are unhappy about ( as per your list above).

 

 

 

 

:-|

[nightrider]

malc d - 2010-11-27 2:36 PM

 

knight of the road - 2010-11-27 2:24 PM

 

malc d - 2010-11-27 2:13 PM

 

knight of the road - 2010-11-27 1:56 PM

 

Its all well and good that the government saying they will listen to what the people have to say, but will they act on what they hear?

Two million quid down the drain i'm afraid.

 

 

As I understand it this is not an extra 2 million quid.

The survey will be carried out by the Office of National Statisitics who are there already, doing other surveys.

 

As to whether or not the govt. will act on the results - I don't know, but as the results will be due just before the next election, it's possible that they might.

 

 

 

 

:-(

Two million pounds that could be better spent, is not asking the public what they think similar to a referendum? we all know what happened to other referendums promised, NOWT.

 

 

 

These ONS surveys are nothing like a referendum.

 

A referendum says " do you want us do do this ?" and you simply answer yes or no.

 

The ONS ( usually) send someone round to see you. They then ask loads of questions and note your response. It is not a vote.

If you are lucky they will visit you this time and you can tell them all the things that you are unhappy about ( as per your list above).

 

 

 

 

:-|

The ONS survey still costs money that could be better spent, why can't they send you a pre-paid envelope asking questions for you to answer, sending someone to your door is an invasion of your privacy, just like a cold call salesman.

The government dont have to ask about the well being of the public the answer is staring them in the face, total unhappiness.

[Brian Kirby]

A sample of people will be questioned.  As it's the ONS doing it, let's assume the sample will be chosen to be as politically neutral and generally representative as possible.

The responses will be published as statistical tables.  N% think X is good, Y% think Z is bad etc.

Given such answers, the government will first trawl the results for all responses that support their various pet projects, or indicate approval for their policies, and proclaim how good, and clever, they have been.

Then they will look at all the areas where there is a poor rating, and will decide which of those they don't like at all, which they will ignore, and which they think they could improve on within their own flavour of dogma, and will come forward with unresearched proposals to "fix" the problem areas.

Then they will hold an election and, if they win, they will "discover" all those things they were talking about doing before the election are suddenly too expensive, or against unspecified international or European agreements, and will drop them in favour of carrying on as before.

So, am I having a "go" at the government?  No, I am not, because I would say what I have said above in respect of any government of any colour.  Why?  Because I'm getting bleedin' old, and beginning to realise that is just how things always work out!  Cynic?  Moi?  You bet!  :-D