Apply GNH to Budget Cutting Process in Vermont
Don’t Worry. Be Happy.
Published: February 3, 2010 Times Argus Newspaper, Letter to the Editor
One way our legislators can evaluate proposed budget cuts is by using “Gross National Happiness” (GNH) measurements. The urgency of using GNH concepts is gaining strength locally and internationally, with the support of governments and Nobel Prize winning economists.
From this perspective, our legislators should weigh what policies truly enhance Vermonters’ well being.
Using this test, the governor’s proposed cuts to services for our senior citizens fail miserably.
GNH researchers in England say there are five keys to well-being: 1) staying connected with family, friends, and community; 2) staying active; 3) remaining engaged in the world around you; 4) being a lifelong learner; and 5) giving to others.
The devastating budget cuts to a wide array of senior services runs absolutely counter to these measures. Drastic cuts to the Senior Companion program, Neighbor-to-Neighbor, and the Foster Grandparents program would mean: lonelier, less connected, less active, and less engaged seniors. That is, these cuts would seriously undermine our seniors well-being. And what Vermonter wants that?
This is a tough, tough time for the Vermont budget — but using a GNH filter may make some of the decisions easier to reach.
Ginny Sassaman
Calais
about 5 months ago
Love the add, I just wish that it were true. I’m one of many who have been feeling these cuts being a PHCP for disabled for over 10 years of my life for very low pay, excluding benefits, sick days, holidays, weekends, and vacation days. I just think that it should be mandatory that each one of the people in the state houses should take care of our folks for a week 24/7 to see if their thoughts would develop into “no” cuts in the Human Services Agencies. The need for human compassion is so great I cannot fathom that after 40 years witness to great changes for others that we would be led to go backwards or depleted all together for the betterment of human kind because of a deficit. Who made the deficit anyways? It surely was not all the hard working little folks just doing their jobs. Shame, shame on them. Man does not live on money alone, it takes “Plan B” and love.