Happiness

I am reading a book called The Measure, about how everyone in the world receives a box at the same time that tells them how long they will live. Will your life be short or long? An interesting philosophical concept: as the box says, “the measure of your life lies within.”

One character recalls a friend who had an alert on his phone that sent him the same message every year on his birthday: “Sit down, and ask yourself: Are you happy?”

I want to believe that most people want to be happy. Life is not easy, but don’t we all deserve to be happy?

AI is changing everything. Amazon just hired 600 robots vs people. By 2033, automation could eliminate the need for more than 600,000 additional hires. Large companies are becoming more profitable by firing more people and using AI. What type of jobs will there be for the next generation?

Of course, food on the table, a roof over one’s head, and healthcare are what everyone needs, but what will make one happy? 

Certainly, putting back the staggering cuts to the federal budget that will affect every part of the economy (duh) must happen to fill countless peoples basic needs (although perhaps they can do a better job when this is rebuilt). We will have to have Universal Income but how about purpose? How does that get achieved from a young age? How can people be happy without purpose?