Is Happiness having more wealth?

The Wellbeing Manifesto - A blueprint for Australia's future

As our politicians continue to entice us to vote for them in return for a future of strong economic growth, the Australia Institute asks "in a world of seemingly endless options, what choices will make us happier?"

Pointing out some of the things that studies claim to make us happy such as:

• a good marriage

• the company of friends

• rewarding work

• sufficient money

• a good diet and physical activity

• sound sleep

• engaging leisure and

• religious or spiritual belief and practice

• optimism

• trust

• self-respect

• autonomy

• gratitude and kindness

• belonging and a belief that we are part of something bigger than ourselves

the Institute comments that "these ingredients of a happy life are not just a matter of personal choice (but) are also determined by the social conditions in which we live, and these, in turn, are influenced by government policy."

Does the Australian government and our political parties have a clear wholistic vision of the future or is their vision just about increasing personal and national wealth?

Does wealth automatically produce wellbeing? 

The Wellbeing Manifesto has been developed by The Australia Institute, Australia’s foremost public interest think tank. The Manifesto takes as its starting point the belief that governments in Australia should be devoted to improving our individual and social wellbeing.

You can read the Manifesto at http://www.wellbeingmanifesto.net/index.htm

If you would like to join the other 8292 people and give it your public endorsement, then the website has a facility where you can register your details.

You can find out more about the Institute from its website, www.tai.org.au.