Download Which party is better for the well being of the United States?

Which party is better for
the well being of the
United States?
Zach Hills
4/14/2015
What are we asking?
Which party is better to offer a normal individual level
of support for Americans?
Which party has a published platform with the best
view for the future?
Can we create a perfect party that is best for
Americans?
If we had power over an abundance of resources, what
party would it be best to engage?
METRICS: well being
 GDP
 GDP per capita
 Inequality adjusted? Median/mean?
 PPP, size of home, material.
 HDI, happiness measurements.
My Approach
I ask this question with
concurrent understandings
using two perspectives:
1) Practical—the best
investment in resources
for the average KU
student.
2) Legislator—best policies
to push through the
United States federal
government.
Well Being
 The primary goal variable
for 21st century politics.
 Best, but imperfect,
measurement is the Happy
Planet Index.
Happy Planet Index
Happy Planet Index ≈
Experienced Well Being x Life Expectancy
Ecological Footprint
continued
Advantages
Disadvantages
 Carrying Capacity
 Heavy on environment
 Life satisfaction relevant to
well being
 Method of finding happy
life years
 Health care is accountable
 Not anticipatory
Happy Planet Index - Data
Legislator Perspective
Policy Direction

Environmental regulation





Carbon tax/goals of neutrality
Increase R&D
Reduce size of military
Sustainable agriculture
Social services




Party Configuration
Access to health care, housing
Basic Income Grant
Education
Human needs

Arts and culture
Left Government
Socialist Party USA
Practical Perspective
What it means to contribute…
1) $100-$1000 to party of
choice
Democratic Party
Multiple seats in the state and
federal governments.
2) Voting
Membership of 43 million.
3) Vocal
SP USA has 1,500.
Contributions to the Democratic Party in the US go farther. Either
way, individuals make little difference.
But since well being is
something we kind of
know when we see…
GDP per capita, PPP
Gini (by family income)
Happiness
Discussion Questions
What feel do we get for which table best listed countries in
order of well being?
What are politics that you associate with increasing well
being that you have a personal relationship with?
References
Gates, Sara. "World Happiness Report 2013 Ranks Happiest
Countries Around Globe." The Huffington Post. The
Huffington Post, 9 Sept. 2013. Web. 14 Apr. 2015. <http://
www.huffingtonpost.com/2013/09/09/world-happinessreport-happiest-countries_n_3894041.html>.
New Economics Foundation (2012-06-14). "Happy Planet Index 2012".
New Economics Foundation. Retrieved 2012-06-14.
Snowdon, Chris. "Shiny Happy People? The Madness of the Happy
Planet Index." Adam Smith Institute. Adam Smith Institute,
19 June 2012. Web. 12 Apr. 2015. <http://
www.adamsmith.org/research/think-pieces/shiny-happypeople-the-madness-of-the-happy-planet-index/>.
"World Bank Group." World Bank Group. 1 Jan. 2015. Web.
14
Apr. 2015. <http://databank.worldbank.org/data/
views/reports/metadataview.aspx>.