Thanks to ten years of research by the World Happiness Report and various organizations, we know the main factors for dissatisfaction and happiness. We need to take these much more seriously than before. This is the only way we can create happy citizens in our countries and stabilize our democracies.

What are the recurring happiness versus unhappiness factors?

Without health no happiness

Physical and mental health is essential for happiness.

We all know this- but the state?

Why does the debate on health insurance in the U.S. remain so “controversial’, when this is a base for the happiness of people and the US constitution even mentions the “pursuit of happiness” as a political task?

Why is there still no physical and mental health education at schools, if it´s  so important?

Why make more harmful drugs easily available promoted by a progressive and libertarian policy obsession? Is it making the people only high but unhappy at the very end?

In 2020 58 percent of voters approved to decriminalize small amounts of hard drugs like cocaine heroin and methamphetamine combined with a drug-treatment program funded by tax revenue from marijuana sales. (Oregon’s Drug Addiction Treatment and Recovery Act, known as Measure 110). Three years later the liberal New York Times called it a “The Hard-Drug Decriminalization Disaster.” Many hoped the new approach would help the addicted and bring down the use. The reality check tells the opposite: much more misuse and unhappy people.

Why not focus on prevention instead of expensive healing?

We need a modern health-and-happiness-policy focusing on maximum prevention and education. This is neither a leftist approach nor socialism, but an important public service relevant for a stable democracy.

Public safety is part of an effective health policy. Therefore, crime prevention is key, including reducing the booming sale of drugs.

Without good human relationships (in the family, at work and in the community) no happiness

Family, friends, harmony. These ancient cornerstones of personal happiness have been in place for thousands of years and are part of our human emotional DNA.

What does this mean for politics?

Protecting the family as the nucleus of happiness is highly political. Not a conservative or a progressive issue, but eternally important. The state must maintain the necessary freedom here, including individuality. Less state, more privacy.

In the community and at work harmony must be promoted. This includes ending aggressive polarization or exaggerating rules dictating certain behavior. An end to dogmas and ideological guidelines and restrictions of any kind. Instead, celebrating a happy life together with other people.

We need new ministers as well as a concept to combat loneliness, which is a burden on many old people – with The United Kingdom setting an example.

More tolerance and a containment of intolerance needed for happiness.

In our world of diversity, we need respect and a policy of tolerance towards other religions and ethnic groups. But at the same time, we must contain intolerant and extremist views with a position of “no tolerance for intolerance”. By following this path, we can produce harmony and happiness for the entire population in our countries.

Mission Future has done intensive research on how to succeed with this task. We suggest establishing a Minister for Tolerance with a National Tolerance Agenda. Something accomplished successfully in the United Arab Emirates already in 2016.

Read our Action Manual Tolerance with all details here.

Without security no happiness

The greatest misfortune is war. With thousands of dead and injured and a destroyed homeland. The politics of happiness must prevent war. Many wise people have thought about this for centuries. As the latest wars in Ukraine and the Middle East once again illustrate, only a credible deterrent and defense capability can really prevent war. In the Budapest Memorandum with Russia, Ukraine gave up its nuclear weapons in 1994 in return for a guarantee of its security. But this arms control agreement was simply ignored by President Putin twice when he invaded Ukraine indirectly in 2014 (Crimea, Donbas) and with full military power on February 24, 2022. Therefore, a sufficient defense capability and a credible deterrent are the cornerstones for peace and happiness of citizens. Without them everything is based on a sand dune.

Security also includes a maximum protection at home against a criminal use of force. This requires consistent work by the police and the courts with zero tolerance for intolerance. Here the Left must abandon its mistrust of state violence and the Liberals their often too excessive data protection dogma. A maximum of security at home is the only way to protect the happiness of citizens and prevent an erosion of trust in the state.

Homeland security, border control and migration

Part of security for happiness is an effective and human policy for homeland security and border control.

Many citizens are concerned about the irregular immigration from crisis regions. It promotes racism and extremism at home. Mission Future has published a comprehensive study on the topic of migration and proposes a balanced ‘Migration Realpolitik with Humanity’ in our Action Manual Migration. All details here.

Without income and employment provided by a booming economy no happiness

The basis of a happy life is not only social assistance on a low level, but more importantly well-paid jobs for a better life. Against the backdrop of global competition, both can only be achieved by a booming economy providing sufficient revenue for the welfare state and the population.

But how?

All 50 Socialist models of a planned state economy encompassing two billion people, that have been tried out over a century, have failed miserably, always end in poverty and unhappiness. This fact may hurt convinced Socialists, but it corresponds with empirical findings of 106 years if you like it or not.

Albert Einstein's sentence applies here: “The purest form of madness is to allow everything to remain as it is and at the same time hope that something will change.”

But even pure capitalists face disappointments. Unrestrained turbo-capitalism without social responsibility also leads to misfortune. Because it cannot satisfy people's basic needs.

Therefore a harmonious balance is necessary. This was best described and implemented as a Social Market Economy in the newly formed Federal Republic of Germany in 1949 under Economics Minister and subsequent Chancellor Ludwig Erhard. In his famous book "Prosperity for All", he called for "steady economic growth, price stability and a high level of employment." He warned: "Prosperity must first be earned before it can be distributed. Increases in productivity are a prerequisite for economic growth."

Therefore, economic growth is key for happy citizens. Only a strong and globally competitive economy creates enough jobs and good wages. Political   support of private companies does not primarily serve capitalists, who are suspect to many on the Left, but the population as a whole as well as the welfare state earning more tax revenues.

The economy is the motor for happiness. Good policy must protect free enterprise, innovation and growth.

This also requires harmonizing the economy with decarbonization policy, which must not jeopardize economic growth, which enhances tax revenues and increases wage growth.

Without freedom no happiness- stop ideologies

The new science of happiness and polls show: Without freedom everything is worthless. Humanity is our heart and soul. Freedom is our oxygen. Tolerance is necessary in a diverse society. Happiness is based on these values.

The magic word for personal happiness is diversity, meaning respect for being different. Not one world and one kind of people, but one world and billions of different people. We don´t want to be mere objects, but instead self-determined citizens striving to develop ourselves personally. All people have the same inalienable human rights. But individuals differ and possess different abilities and needs.

As we have seen in the Chapter Facts & Numbers, in the absence of freedom,  citizens are merely the puppets and objects of governments as well as their  mostly bourgeois official nomenclature. Only if we aren´t burdened by overly strict state regulations, we can cultivate happiness. Freedom is our political air to breathe, our oxygen for the individual pursuit of personal happiness and self-realization. Without the state suppressing freedom of thought and opinion. Free means: being able to be myself without state and without punishment. Without freedom there is no protection of individuality and diversity.

But the evil in human DNA tends to overestimate itself ultimately resulting in selfishness, arrogance, paternalism, dictatorial orders and restrictions. That is the totalitarian element in all of us. It mainly affects intellectuals, who devise respective ideologies. Well-meant, but in reality, the opposite of well done.

Whoever wants to create unity out of diversity opposes this plural world order of God and his desire for pluralism of all his diverse creatures on earth. Whoever insists on homogeneity and persecutes other faiths, races or minorities commits a sin against God’s building plan of life.

Any artificial product of a political salvation doctrine designed by human beings kills happiness. It is poison. The construction of a totalitarian state on earth, focused on one uniform type of human being, contradicts the original God-code of creation.

All old and new totalitarian ideologies – whether Socialism, Communism, Nationalism, Racism, Islamism or Extinction Rebellion– on the other hand, want to forge uniformed human beings. But this narrow-minded policy contradicts the divine basic order of nature and humanity. These ideologies prevent individual happiness and thus humanity and harmony.

Ideological blinkers and all prisons of thought restrict the scope for freedom and become an end in themselves for political self-indulgence. Ultimately, they create monopolies of power inviting the abuse of power. In addition, other thinkers and minorities are regarded as enemies of the state and eventually eliminated. The inevitable result is a dictatorship of a few functionaries over all others. Instead of a sugary paradise hell on earth prevails.

Consequently, a general rejection of all ideologies is imperative. These ideologies strangle freedoms. Happiness policy must curb all totalitarian seducers.

We need a policy of empathy, not ideology. A golden heart of humanity. With empathy for the feelings and needs of all citizens and no dictatorial regulations. A genuine people’s democracy with a heart, where no one is excluded, hostile or oppressed. A serving state with an effective mind, in which everyone can live freely, well and happily.

Those preaching prejudice, hatred and envy against other groups are attacking diversity and launching an attack on individuality and freedom. We all want to live happily, but everyone differently while preserving diversity.

For the different aspirations of more than seven billion human beings we need: Humanity with respect and freedom, a clean environment for survival, effective security providing protection against aggressive dictators or criminals, well-paid work, health, education and affordable housing, to name but a few of the wishes. For example, citizens do not want either freedom or security, either humanity or a limitation of migration, but generally all benefits at the same time.

Good overall policy must therefore always keep an eye on all needs and never neglect individual concerns. This is unfortunately too often the case.

Our democracies have an extreme tendency towards mere crisis management and hysteria. Politicians often choose short-term approaches lacking a long-term plan. Extreme positions are attracted, fanned and amplified by the media like moths to a flame. Suddenly one topic dominates the entire news cycle. Then the rest is neglected. Ignored and abandoned by politics. However, the concerns of the silent majority are very important. Ignoring its needs and interests tends to contradict the democratic constitutional requirement of focusing on the common good.

This is bound to fail. We have to change it. Politics must be broadly based. Good, future-oriented policies must satisfy all needs at the same time and in a balanced manner: freedom, security, work, humanity and much more. It is therefore wrong to give one issue absolute priority and simply ignore the other important basic needs. We must move away from one-issue thinking, because it does not correspond to political necessities and is therefore bound to fail.

Consequently, all power comes from the people – from the bottom to the top. It is the citizens that constitute the state. Politics must serve the citizens.

Today these insights are melting away in the political debate. Totalitarian ideologies of redemption and populist models of rule are putting democratic pluralism under pressure. With a “You must not!” warning, many politicians want to restrict our freedoms to a certain extent thereby attacking the core of individual autonomy.

The essence of power is ruling and expanding its scope. That is an eternal natural law. The democratic state, too, tends to interfere in the remaining freedoms of the citizens. It squeezes more money out of their pockets. It patronizes them. But this contradicts the idea of freedom and the search for personal happiness. Freedom always means as little state intervention as possible. Less state – more room for private activities and enterprises. This is a rejection of state monopoly ideologies, nationalistic and authoritarian models. The democratic state must limit itself and respect the rights of citizens to their privacy. A curtailment of state intervention to what is necessary and proportionate. Restrictions of freedom of any kind, including expropriation, are only permissible in the most extreme cases. Governments must leave citizens maximum freedom and leeway for development allowing them to live independently and happily.

Dialogue as the mother language of humanity needed

In politics and the social media, exclusion rather than talking to each other dominates. Mallet instead of foil. The other is no longer seen as an opponent with different views but stylized as an enemy. People are stigmatized. That is easy, it makes some “fighters for good” happy, but it is counterproductive when subjected to in-depth analysis.

Dissidents are too often considered enemies to be opposed with all means, because the good cause supposedly justifies their oppression. We should unite with open policies, stop polarizing. We need democracy and respect for other opinions. Plurality of opinions is the core of better policy.

The various radicals in our democracies are destroying the core of the foundations of enlightenment, freedom and individual happiness. There is a threat of political mini-dictators striving to impose their will on us, thus strangling freedom and happiness. Human dignity is at risk.

Some radicals promote a so called ‘Cancel culture’, punishing people who do not follow what self-appointed ‘progressive’ moral police considers to be right or wrong. Is this democratic, fair and supporting harmony and happiness?

Criticism is legitimate in a functioning democracy, but it contradicts the basic democratic idea of becoming a mini-dictator over others. Because that is the beginning of the end of democracy.

We don´t need less but more dialogue. Dialogue is the mother language of humanity. It helps us to turn enemies into opponents, and opponents into new friends.

Dialogue means taking all people and their opinions seriously, promoting harmony and happiness instead of polarization.

How we can improve our fragile democracies you can reads in our Action Manual Democracies here.

Without a fair state no happiness – Mission Future needed

In the chapter Facts & Numbers we mentioned Confucius who stated 2,500 years ago:

"Rule the country with decency and kindness as a noble person in harmony with others and nature. With a proper balance. With respect for people and much humanity. In addition, rightness. Always in balance and in the middle."

Lao-Tse called for “humility, kindness and broad mindedness”. He demanded from leaders to “be utterly humble.”

Cicero remarked that “the civil service must be run for the benefit of those entrusted to it, not for the benefit of those to whom it is entrusted”. Not self-interest, but common good is the maxim for good politics.

Aristotle describes "the goal that all people strive for is happiness. People will do anything for this. Happiness is at the end of the hierarchical pyramid of human thoughts and actions. There is no higher goal". He promoted a happy life, based on physical and mental well-being and avoiding extreme positions. Eudaimonia as the pinnacle of human endeavor.

All these ancient wisdoms are still true today.

Without a fair state no happiness - without happiness no fair state.

The World Happiness Reports mentions “a lack of corruption and an effective government” as important elements of happy citizens.

Worldwide Transparency International reports about corruption, taking money in exchange for services. The worst countries are those where people are unhappy too. In the Corruption Perception Index the happiest countries are the least corrupt: Denmark (rank 1 of least corrupt), Finland (2), New Zealand (3), Norway (4), Sweden (5), Switzerland (7), Netherlands (8) or Luxembourg (10).

An effective government and the rule of law are the foundation of a stable state.

It demands a trilogy of humanity, including freedom and tolerance, as well as creativity and effectiveness – a Mission Future with steady reforms in all areas.

All together a successful happiness policy can be described as a pragmatic realpolitik with a focus on the needs of the people and room to develop. A new policy with a ‘thinking heart and a loving mind.’ What is necessary is a new brand of ethical politik, combined with a sense of responsibility, of proportion and passion. Adding philanthropy, including maximum freedom, as a catalyst of indispensable humanity and individual happiness. Carrying the torch of enlightenment and respect for diversity and tolerance. A more effective policy with the pragmatism of Karl Popper and Max Weber. And the thoughtfulness and creativity of Albert Einstein. Linked to the great heart of humanity.

We need politicians exhibiting critical ability and greater humility. Modern, progressive, open to innovation and creativity focused on reforms. No ideological tea-bag politics constantly repeating the same phrases and prejudices.

Thinking, learning and planning internationally and not in the local ideological rabbit hole. Learning globally from the best and smartest.

Politicians must learn from the Golden Global Champions, which Mission Future presents in our unique Action Manuals. Here same examples:

A lively Social Market Economy is much better than Socialism or Turbo-Capitalism. In the 21st century the people need a sensible and acceptable overall view and a balance between basic social services, moderate taxes and maximum personal and entrepreneurial freedom. The state must provide adequate care. This includes the highest possible tax-free pensions, a functioning health system, affordable housing in the cities, but also fair taxes for all and wealth accumulation. Relief, more support and appreciation for top performers in the middle class are the indispensable basis for all these measures. A fairer and transparent major tax reform, modelled on the Estonian example – digitally well organised and simply designed. With a flat rate of 20 percent, with a high allowance for families, creates financial freedom and more happiness for citizens. Moreover, the exemplary pension systems of the Netherlands and Denmark can be adopted in other countries.
Denmark, Luxembourg, Sweden, Switzerland, Canada and Singapore have the best health system in the world. Let us learn from these countries. Singapore and Vienna are role models in social housing construction for all cities worldwide. Every city should plan new districts with its own high-rises and rent them out cheaply. States should adopt the Finnish model for reducing homelessness with ‘Housing First’.

To make the people happy, we need new thinking and dynamic politicians: smart performers and thinkers exhibiting personal warmth, courage and an alert mind. Not committed to their careers, but to the welfare of the people entrusted to them.  A new leadership, not of too old, too narrow-minded or too ideological, but pragmatic representatives committed to Realpolitik with hearts and minds. No new mini-dictators, but true democrats open for constant reforms. With a determined willingness to reform and a great desire to improve and shape the future.

We need new windmills in the globalized 21st century. Not antiquated politics handed down through repetition. No old wine in new wine skins, but something really new, forward- looking, modern. We must devise a new policy that will make us all happier. Not nationalistic, not selfishly egotistical, but a multilateral approach for responsible world citizens. Not right or left or green or red, but simply without old blinkers consistently innovative and well-planned. Not conservative, but progressive. Not just one mega topic but covering and improving all areas of policy. Not just power politics and not just a dreamy utopia. No whitewashing but improving. No sleeping car or slow train, but a dynamic express train into the future. No standstill, but action. No hesitation, but creativity and courage. Not recipes from day before yesterday, but the latest knowledge for the day after tomorrow. Founded and grounded by referring to functioning role models from all over the world. We must not parrot the old, wornout and rigid ideologies and their ancient standard phrases like a religion, but learn from the best movers and shakers of today. Because they have proven that they have sustainable recipes. We must analyze what can be learned from these champions worldwide for a future-oriented policy.

We must follow the future-makers, not the fear-makers, preachers of hate and boredom.

This political process is not static, but dynamic. Being receptive and open to change produces long-term reform – thinking without blinkers as the core of sound policy.

Not ideology and faith, but openness to pragmatic solutions is the core of Mission Future. A new view of things. The pragmatic ability to learn. Globally.

With concrete and rapidly implemented proposals for the problems of tomorrow, which are mainly caused by the Fourth Industrial Revolution in the context of global digitization, China’s aggressiveness and the totalitarian threat to freedoms worldwide.

With a lot of optimism, instead of doomsday sermons and defeatism.

With the Holy Flame of human rights and freedom, personal responsibility and tolerance. To make the people happier.

On this way forward, the wise statement of Nelson Mandela is worth heeding:

“It always seems impossible until it is done”.