Measuring happiness

Something in the news just now that makes me smile is the fact that many upper middle class people on tv discussing how money does not make people happy. This statement could only come from people who have never had to worry about money. Money cannot buy happiness and money not making people happy are two very different things. People are happy when they don't have to worry about debt, long waiting lists for operations (if they have money they can go private), they don't have to worry about whether they can feed their children, or if they are in a car accident that is not their fault but have an old car, their insurance writes it off, so they cannot afford to buy a new car. While money cannot buy the emotion of happiness, feeling financially secure can, at the very least, cut your worries back and allow you the opportunity to breathe. I would be happy going on an around the world trip, or being able to buy my mother a house in the country. these things would make me happy. I do get very frustrated when people who have never had to worry about their finances start telling the rest of the country (an beyond) that it cannot buy happiness. It can to a great extent. This country is falling into a hole. there are a few wealthy people on top of that hole but the rest of us are struggling to climb up that hole. We are deeply concerned about where our next phone bill money will come from, where our meals at the end of the month are coming from and how to get about when we no longer have a car. The gap between the affluent Londoners and the rest of the UK is now a gaping abyss. When is someone going to do something about this?

Inflation busters

With inflation rocketing out of control, David Cameron doesn’t seem especially inclined to do anything about it.

Instead of doing one of the most basic things to kick-start the economy, he avoids questions on what his own party will do regarding Europe.

Cut the fuel costs. Ridiculously high fuel prices have a knock-on effect on the price of everything, from groceries to furniture, to the cost of oil. By cutting the cost of petrol/diesel more people will be able to afford more extravagant items, boosting the economy. It’s not rocket science and yet the Conservative Party seem incapable of making that small leap of imagination!

On another note, it was Annabel Goulding’s last parliamentary question time in the Scottish Parliament. While she may be a Conservative (most of Scotland, myself included, detest this party), she is an intelligent woman who has done many good deeds in her time and will be missed. I really do wish she would become independent or join any of the other parties! Farewell Annabel!