Gross National Happiness and Lessons

November 20, 2008 by Evelyn Vincent

Until a few years ago I didn't even know a country named Bhutan existed, only 110 miles from the north to south and 200 from east to west, Bhutan - called by its people Druk Yul, "the Land of the Thunder Dragon" - is home to a remarkable variety of climates and ecosystems. When I heard a long-time friend talk about a guy he had met from Bhutan and how cool and sane it was I Googled the name and began reading... WOW! It sounds like an absolutely amazing place!!! A place where we, in the US, can learn lessons and continue on the path of 'positive' change.

Many Americans are probably unaware of another historic election of 2008. Bhutan, once an absolute monarchy, became one of the world's newest democracies in March. While this may not seem significant at first glance I think it deserves a closer look... 

One thing I find outstanding about Bhutan is that it's a place where the Gross National Happiness is deemed more important than the Gross National Product.

Instead of focusing on gross domestic product (GDP), Bhutan measures gross national happiness (GNH).

When I read this, I stopped in my tracks... to be in the moment of what exactly gross national happiness was and what it might be like. The more I thought about it, the more it touched my heart and soul, and what it might feel like to be a citizen of a country who felt their leaders actually cared about more than 'their' microcosm. To know that my voice would be heard and the decisions made higher up in government would be a reflection of not only the average persons preference, but of something more 'real' that reaches far beyond the superficial and of duties which leaders typically perform according their rule book. All the trendy fashions, the latest electronic games, the company big-wigs who are screwing us royally right down to our cores... would be deemed LESS significant in the eyes of our people and our government. The more I thought about this the more it made sense and the more I liked it!

I know my heart and soul is not the only that feels and desires something of significance - a community in balance, surrounded by people who truly care, way beyond their small circle... longing for a country that takes pride in the actual things that mean something - rather than lips flapping one lie after the next and propaganda smacking us in the face minute after minute so that we may be more thoroughly conditioned into being the 'good little sheep' these screw-miesters want us to be.

I don't know about you, but I'm sick of it! I'm totally fed-up watching these big-wigs take control of everything, including our rights, and watching us sit around trying to remain optimistic that kinder and more gentle days lie ahead... it ain't gonna happen. I can't happen until we get off our butts and demand 'real' change occur - which is going to take a lot of work and a lot of sacrifice on our part. 

I believe that Gross National Happiness is an important element in the survival and balance of a modern and civilized country... we've gotten so terribly far away from our roots that the children of today don't even know what our great country was once like. A HUGE indicator that we must do all that we can to shift gears and make the US all that it can be - not just sit around and say how great we are will we live our lives in delusion and denial. I'm not trying to ruffle any feathers, simply calling a spade a spade - we've got a huge mess on our hands that was preventable, if we didn't allow big companies 'run' our country and thus our lives things would be very different than they are currently. In other words, it's our own fault! 

Bhutan is a country of surprises and not just a nation of saintly, other-worldly hermits. Bhutan is straddling the ancient and modern world and these days you’ll find monks transcribing ancient Buddhist texts into computers as traditionally dressed noblemen chat on their mobile phones.

Many Americans are likely unaware of the other historic election of 2008. Bhutan, once an absolute monarchy, became one of the world's newest democracies in March. A tiny Buddhist nation sandwiched between China and India, Bhutan can seem a universe away.

Many Bhutanese were initially squeamish about democracy. But their election in 2008, comprised of two parties with fairly similar agendas, was remarkably peaceful.

"What we have proven is that peace and stability are prerequisites to the establishment of democracy," Mr. Thinley says. "In Bhutan, without having to worry about their daily security, survival, these basic things -- people were able to reflect on the philosophy itself."

Mr. Thinley adds that in many so-called democracies, "you trade your vote for a square meal. . . . The Bhutanese didn't have to do that."

He draws a contrast to countries where "democracy has been the child of a convulsive process . . . instability, war and revolution. And then, those people who came to power knew how to create revolution, how to stir people, and how to fight against despots and authoritarianism -- but did not know how to govern, how to serve."

I think this is a good time to take a moment and reflect on what Mr. Thinley just said... the Bhutanese people don't have to worry about their daily security, survival and basic things, the sheer fact that people were able to reflect on the philosophy itself, wow... how many of us can honestly say we have this experience?

How many of us even have the time anymore to 'reflect' on the philosophy of democracy?

How many of us are 'not' trying to survive right now?

How many of us feel that the leaders of the US know how to 'govern' and 'serve' without resorting to war, or without creating instability so that those involved with big companies can continue making their fortunes at the deepest expense of our country and our people?

Even just thinking about having some time to 'reflect,' and to feel completely safe (from the self-inflicted financial crisis or from the bad guy(s) who live among us), and to not worry if or where money might come from six months from now to cover my expenses and buy food... just thinking of not worrying about those things makes me wonder... how could we have allowed ourselves to get into such a bad situation!? How did we let them condition us into believing that, in the word's of president "W" Bush days after 9-11, that 'going shopping' would make everything OK? Does he, or they, think we're that stupid!? Going shopping doesn't solve a damn thing and it has certainly been proven that it does NOT make the US happiness factor go up - if anything it drives the US Gross National Happiness down to the darkest depths of despair. 

Mr. Thinley goes on to say this about his idea of good governance...

"We have to ensure that in the first five years of our governance [this is a new democracy] we act completely within the confines of the constitution . . . that the rule of law prevails under any circumstance. . . . We will respect and ensure the absolute separation of the three branches of government, that's the judiciary, executive and the legislature."

Clearly, the Bhutanese have taken the time to look around at other countries and 'think' about what works, what doesn't work, how do democracy's fail to live up to their expectations and what happens when they do fail. Is this smart, or what!? 

Mr. Thinley says the U.S. constitution "defined the conceptual framework within which all other constitutions have been drafted. And so the United States Constitution was certainly a major document that inspired and that was referred to by the constitution committee."

I sure hope Mr. Thinley is also taking into account that the US leaders can change things so much that we the people are essentially without our original US Constitution any longer. 

Democracy, according to Mr. Thinley, boils down to "the empowerment of the people, the freedom of the voter. . . . giving the capacity to the individual citizen to determine his or her own destiny," he says. "Now if these are what democracy provides, then I would say that regardless of what culture you belong to, democracy is essential."

I sure do hope that tiny Bhutan does not follow the behaviors and actions of US leaders, who have essentially spit on our Constitution. 

Mr. Thinley goes on...

Some will make the (basically pro-authoritarian) argument that some cultures don't want to determine their own destiny. "People can be made to think that way." Human beings are a "very interesting species . . . as intelligent as we are we can act and we sometimes appear to prefer to act in the most foolish ways. As much as we inherently search for, yearn for, freedom, we very willingly submit ourselves to subjugation and tyranny. And then find ourselves saying: This is how we like it."

What Mr. Thinley said reminds me of what has come to be my favorite quote of recent years...

"A truth's initial commotion is directly proportional to how deeply the lie was believed...When a well-packaged web of lies has been sold gradually to the masses over generations, the truth will seem utterly preposterous and its speaker a raving lunatic." ~ Dresden James

I think at this point, if there's anyone in the US, or the world for that matter, who denies that what we've seen happen in the US at the very least from 1913 to today can certainly be considered as being one who has been completely brainwashed by the lies, trickery, and conditioning of the US people. Our government and big companies have taken so very much from us. It's like the game we played as children... one for you, and one for me, one for you and two for me, two for you and four for me...

I'm not amused. This is my life, it's your life, it's our one and only planet... we only have one of each. Do we want to waste all of these because we want to believe we're not being lied to and raked over the coals simply because we want to believe in a brand or have faith and 'pretend' that those in authority care about us and our planet? 

Mr. Thinley will continue to implement the government policy of tiny Bhutan's Gross National Happiness...

"Happiness is not hedonistic, it is not the kind of fleeting pleasures that we seek." It has to do with "being able to balance material needs of the body and the spiritual needs of the mind."

He says the conditions for the pursuit of happiness has four pillars:

• Equitable and sustainable socioeconomic growth

• Conservation of the fragile Himalayan economy and environment

• Cultural preservation and promotion

• and good governance.

Mr. Thinley admits that there's a limit to what the government can deliver. It can try to create the right conditions, but "the individual himself and herself must pursue happiness."

It sounds as if Mr. Thinley is on the right track and that the people of Bhutan take an active role in their lives and their beautiful country.

My hope is that the people of the US do the same - for the sake of the US Constitution, our well-being, the future of our children, and for the future of our very fine and beautiful planet.

As Tom Brokaw once said, "sometimes conspiracies are true." I think it's time we call a spade a spade and do what we must do to get our lives and country out of the control of big companies and the Federal Reserve.