AlterNet: Hey, America: It's Time to Redefine the "Good Life"

[marmar]

AlterNet / By Richard Wilkinson and Kate Pickett

Hey, America: It's Time to Redefine the "Good Life"
Although economic growth has been an important driver of human progress in the past, we in the developed world must now look elsewhere for improvements in our quality of life.

February 26, 2010 |


The following is excerpted from the The Spirit Level: Why Greater Equality Makes Societies Stronger by Kate Pickett and Richard Wilkinson, published by Bloomsbury Press. Copyright © 2009 by the authors.


It seems likely that environmental constraints on economic growth will dominate world politics for the foreseeable future. A pessimistic view would be that this is the beginning of the end of the most prosperous chapter in human history, and that business activity will be submerged -- if not by storms and rising sea levels -- then by a rising tide of government restrictions. A more optimistic response is to view the necessary constraints on economic growth as an opportunity to create a new and better post-consumerist society.

As the quality of life is so often defined in terms of material living standards and national income per person, it might seem paradoxical to claim that environmental restrictions on economic growth need not involve sacrificing our quality of life. But if instead we define the ‘quality of life’ in terms of life expectancy, happiness and well-being, then the data clearly shows that we, in the rich market democracies, no longer benefit from increasing affluence.

Although economic growth has been the most important driver of human progress in the past and still has a crucial role to play in improving lives in developing countries, we in the developed world must now look elsewhere for further improvements in the real quality of life.

We are social epidemiologists; people who usually spend their time trying to understand how social factors affect population health. Our work has focused on different aspects of wellbeing in rich market democracies. Rather than looking at subjective measures, such as happiness, we have looked at objective measures, such as life expectancy, homicide rates, drug abuse, child well-being, levels of trust, involvement in community life, mental illness, teenage birth rates, children’s math and literacy scores, and the proportion of the population in prison. ...........(more)

The complete piece is at: http://www.alternet.org/books/145827/hey%2C_america%3A_it%27s_time_to_redefine_the_%22good_life%22

[ixion]

1. The "Good Life" is a simple life, in my opinion...

along the lines of Thoreau:

I am convinced, both by faith and experience, that to maintain one’s self on this earth is not a hardship but a pastime, if we will live simply and wisely.

[raccoon]

2. Good article, but I strongly disagree with this statement:

" A pessimistic view would be that this is the beginning of the end of the most prosperous chapter in human history, and that business activity will be submerged -- if not by storms and rising sea levels -- then by a rising tide of government restrictions. "

Business activity more restricted by governments? Just because of environmental destruction? I doubt it! Ain't gonna happen.

Business will continue to do its own thing while the icecaps melt.

[FirstLight]

3. This is an awesome article...!

I am definintely getting this book!

We are in the process of creating community here in my rural town and this information is right on target to what we have seen.

Humans are social creatures and sharing and caring is what makes us stronger and better as a society. If you think about it, that's what gave our ancestors the edge they needed to survive ice ages, etc.
If we are to deal with growing issues of sustainability and economic struggle...then the onoy way to benefit is to work together and develop our altruistic nature.

The more resources that we lose in our 'comforable' lives, the more we turn to community.