Something I have been losing sleep over in recent times is that much used acronym GDP (Gross Domestic Product). One source has the GDP defined as a "basic measure of a country's economic performance". According to the IMF (International Monetary Fund), Australia's GDP was ranked 14th in 2008. Why has it kept me awake at nights? Well, from my humble perspective (i.e. non-economist) I feel the GDP is like a test result that you get back from the doctor.....
Doctor,"Mr Butler come in, I have your test result".
Me, "How is it? Good?".
Doctor, "Your GDP is over 30,000 per capita".
Me, "Wow is that good.....that's good right?"
GDP gives no measure of my well-being, in fact it isn't designed to measure well-being at all - that's not its purpose. So to me, as a regular citizen, when the media gives the latest GDP figures it is just another meaningless number.
The government of Bhutan uses an entirely different measurement of performance, they use something called GNH, Gross National Happiness. They have decided that it is more important that their citizens be happy rather than concentrating on material "wealth". I quite like this idea but I don't think it will catch on. Why? Because for far too long we have been conditioned into a state of mind that makes us believe more money, bigger homes, more clothes will make us happy.
Instinctively we know this is not true, yet as a society we continue to pursue this path. Why? Because we don't know any other way. This is where "the Greens" come in. We offer Australian society a viable, happy alternative to the consumerism and liberal mindset of the two dominant political parties. The Greens offer distinct policies that pursue a more equitable, democratic and sustainable society.
We have one big problem - no-one knows how great life could be under Greens leadership.
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2009
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May
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- Poll Result
- Climate Change Economist Nicholas Stern
- Productivity Commission has got it wrong
- Refer to Previous post
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- Feeling a little confused
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- Wellbeing NOT Gross Domestic Product
- Danger of Mental Models
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- Renewable Energies Create Jobs and Economic Growth
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- Why you.....Swine!
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