CityCyclingEdinburgh was launched on the 27th of October 2009 as "an experiment".
IT’S TRUE!
CCE is 15years old!
Well done to ALL posters
It soon became useful and entertaining. There are regular posters, people who add useful info occasionally and plenty more who drop by to watch. That's fine. If you want to add news/comments it's easy to register and become a member.
RULES No personal insults. No swearing.
Or as the press is calling it, 'happiness'.
http://www.ons.gov.uk/about/consultations/measuring-national-well-being/index.html
For £2m they ought to be able to come up with some answers.
Well WE know some of the answers -
More people cycling
Less traffic
Lower speeds
The survey will find that areas with the lowest hourly wage are also (surprise, surprise) THE HAPPIEST.
David Cameron will then conclude that these 'happy areas' should get less help as it will only ruin their happiness rating?
Just like 'Big Society' I maybe don't understand it fully.
I thought they were getting rid of quangos, one of which includes Cycling England, now this £2m dosh would pay for at least one year's salary for a few folk. As usual it will probably be a friend of someone who already has money that gets the job of devising how "happiness" is measured. What cr*p. Personally I find it all rather vomit inducing. You cynic LB but you're probably absolutely right those in the poorest households will be found to be the "happiest"
I shouldn't say poorest, but perhaps euphemistically, less well off households for that feel good factor, we so do not want to insinuate that there might be "poor" people in society. I cannot stand even looking at DC when he is pontificating about something or another on telly, and I could not ever meet him face to face because I know I would end up in prison because I would have this overwhelming desire to wipe that smug look off his face by punching his lights out. However could anyone have ever voted for him and his party, clearly they must have some sort of brain short-circuit.
Liz However could anyone have ever voted for him and his party, clearly they must have some sort of brain short-circuit.
His teflonesque face and policies are totally correct for HD TV! The more clearly you look the less there is...
His survey is simply to re-enforce 'conservatism'. Bet you he'll say. "Some people are demonstrably happy with less and under this government we're committed to guarantee that this vital aspect of Britishness will remain....etc"
"His teflonesque face and policies are totally correct for HD TV! "
That terrifying pre-election billboard poster still gives me the heebie jeebies just thinking about it. At least whoever hung the one in Wester Hailes had the consideration to put it up back to front.
I like this. Anything to readdress the balance, away from constant "wealth generation" and towards doing stuff people enjoy, has got to be a good thing.
PS Sure there will be a mix of views.
In Alastair McIntosh's Soil and Soul he remarked on the fact that diets in The Hebrides were actually better than other parts of Scotland and much of England. The people though were considered 'poor' because they had low GDP and no fridges and less in larders.
By the 1970s they grew, farmed or fished less of their own fresh food but were judged to be 'wealthier' although their health was not that improved.
(Bartering being of no use to the Inland Revenue!).
Interesting R4 In Business last night
"
In the middle of a recession renewed economic growth is always considered the great panacea that will get us out of the mess we are in. However, is this really the way to tackle the problems of a finite world? Peter Day wonders if our reliance on growth is not a snare and a delusion.
"
http://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/b00w228b (available on iPlayer)
@LaidBack -
"By the 1970s ... were judged to be 'wealthier'"
That's when the EU paid for new roads and houses to replace the traditional (easier to self-maintain, but probably not as nice to live in) traditional croft houses.
On Question Time last week GDP was mentioned. Paddy Ashdown said 'if you crash your car that gets added to GDP figures' (and a few other examples) - presumably meaning if people repaired or replaced.
"(Bartering being of no use to the Inland Revenue!)"
Yes that's the point - it's all about measurable transactions which involve money.
The GDP of 'poorer' countries doesn't include the (genuine) economic benefits of subsistence farming - i.e. food for families or communities to eat that doesn't get a market (literally) value calculated.
@LaidBack -
"Just like 'Big Society' I maybe don't understand it fully"
Some discussion on Westminster Hour - http://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/b00w6q9m (6 days left to listen) with lots of stats about who and how people do voluntary things at the moment.
Large degree of scepticism about finding more people to take on more responsibilities.
More involvement/control etc. all good in theory (and often in practice). But that all depends on people/skills/training - and some level of monitoring - which all cost money.
Of course anything can be done cheaper - but not necessarily better (or for free)...
It's interesting that the new leader of the Labour Party has said "Now it sticks in our throat when David Cameron tries to claim he’s the man for the big society because he has an old fashioned view about the big society."
How much Big Society, big society or national well-being make any difference remains to be seen.
Maybe the newly impoverished Irish will lead the way(?)
"The OUP UK Word of the Year is ... 'big society'"
http://oxforddictionaries.com/page/woty
Well you'd think the OUP would know the difference between one word and two!
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