Why happiness can never be the purpose of government and should always be.

“A (person) must have a very clouded vision, or view human society from a very misty distance, to cherish the notion that the uniform regulation of life would automatically ensure a uniform distribution of happiness.” So said Carl G. Jung in his epilogue to Psychological Types. He is absolutely right and absolutely wrong.

By now, we all know happiness science tells us that people who are part of a spiritual community are happier, people who exercise are happier, and married people are happier.

Does this mean that there should be a law forcing you to go to church, tax-deductions for exercising, or fines for not getting married? No. Jung explains it this way: “No social legislation will ever be able to overcome the psychological differences between (people)…These differences involve such different requirement for happiness that no legislation, however perfect, could afford them even approximate satisfaction.”

Can’t anyone see that is a silly way to interpret the role of happiness in government? (Maybe not if they don’t want to see it, but that is a whole other set of problems). How you find your happiness is highly individualistic, and that is the way it is supposed to be. In the examples above, common sense (and science) tells us that the relationship between marriage and happiness is much more complex than a contract, that each person finds their own sense of spirituality or non-spirituality in their own way, and that while exercise may be good for most people’s health, and eventually lead to happiness, for some it could lead to just the opposite. It’s terrifying to think that government would enacting legislation so precise, such as a law forcing us to smile.

And yet, happiness should be the purpose of government. The idea that happiness is the purpose of government goes back at least 200 years, maybe 2000, and it was much more nuanced than one may think. Jefferson introduced the idea of happiness (in lieu of property) as our government’s purpose in our Declaration of Independence, and celebrated the successful implementation of the concept 47 years later: “The equal rights of man and the happiness of every individual are now acknowledged to be the only legitimate objects of government.”

Of one thing we can be sure, our nation’s founders did not intend prescriptive legislation when they considered happiness and government. (A few more happiness quotes from our forefathers).

So what kind of government did they consider?

My bet is they would have been proud to see local legislation and local community action securing the right of people’s pursuit of happiness, with the interpretation of happiness inextricably linked to community well-being, ecological health and each individual reaching their full potential.

What kind of legislation would that be? Well, we already have some examples (progress not perfection), and some dreams too. For sure this does not mean prescribing a behavior or action, and for sure it opens opportunities for people to find happiness in their own way.

So what are those examples?

The pop up park phenomena is spreading into cities across the USA and abroad. This is a low-cost simple step cities take to educate through experience about the benefits of public spaces, reintroducing nature in the urban jungle and connecting as a community. (Armchair tourist this one in Philly, and a few in Australia)

Portland, Oregon is the (biggish) ultra-hip city that got that way by rethinking city transportation systems into open spaces, rainwater gardens, a city-side light rail system, biker friendly streets (relative to other cities — remember, progress not perfection) and ordinances allowing a plethora of food-carts that will blow your taste-buds away (you could eat your way around the city).

And some dreams?

Well, in my work in the happiness movement with communities since 2010, I have collected tons (check a few out in our Pathways to Happiness — scroll down after you get to this link). And one of my dreams is that my federal government (USA), state and city government (Seattle) and all national and local government across the world will follow the lead of Bhutan, the UAE and the state of Madhya Pradesh in India to appoint happiness ministers, commissioners, secretaries. To this, I invite you to join an open letter calling on governments to put happiness at the forefront. Add your comments, your dreams, your signature. (And please leave contact info so I can ask questions & include you on the final sendout)! ❤