Plerdus,
Adages aren't much of a guide. Most people on the right understand little about philosophy or economics.

I posted earlier and drew attention to a couple of excellent sources of clear thinking. There has been no comment on the information that can be found at those sources.

The results of a well-being survey of the 21 OECD countries, conducted by a German company are worth reading at;
http://www.nytimes.com/2011/10/29/opinion/blow-americas-exploding-pipe-dream.html?_r=1&nl=todaysheadlines&emc=tha212
http://www.sgi-network.org/pdf/SGI11_Social_Justice_OECD.pdf

Australia rated 21st and that paragon of the right, the USA, only rated ahead of Greece, Chile, Mexico and Turkey.

The more egalitarian countries took the top places.

"The more egalitarian countries took the top places."

Since high scores on the survey appear to be heavily weighted in favour of egalitarianism, that's hardly surprising. Note too that countries which have less money to go round are almost certainly going to show up as more 'egalitarian' -- when everybody's got nothing, then everybody's equal. And is Australia really worse at 'poverty prevention' than Greece? Oh come now!

But at least it's not as fatuous as the megadaft Happy Planet Index, which puts Costa Rica as the #1 place to be...

http://www.neweconomics.org/blog/2012/06/14/measuring-what-matters-the-happy-planet-index-2012

plerdsus, I'm over 50 and left till the day I die, even while I recognise the failure of idealistic materialism. One day, sooner or later, it will dawn on humanity at large that there is no acceptable rationale for a hierarchical structure based on monetary elitism---rather than a real meritocracy---whether dynastic or entrepreneurial/ruthless opportunism, especially when it manifests as material/egotistical glut and excess, as it does. Australia is bourgeois central and our politicians reflect that. Malcolm Fraser represents an embarrassment for conservatives and shame for Labor.

"Most people on the right understand little about philosophy or economics."

What a ridiculous statement; you must be thinking of Krugman; Like most 'left' economists Krugman is a Keynesian and has been critiqued by everyone from Davidson to Genetski.

Likewise your survey is strange; the US ranks just ahead of Mexico; pulease! Likewise Australia ranks well down.

I'll tell you the best survey; which way is the immigration going; from The US to Mexico; from Australia to the OECD countries?

Your survey is a farce.

So we agree, the left is finished.

Next all we have to do is to wait for the Muslim Brotherhood to take over, & we will be rid of these troublesome feminists.

Of course they will never let any of us, male or female have access to the net, so we'll never really know.

@Squeers,

<<One day, sooner or later, it will dawn on humanity at large that there is no acceptable rationale for a hierarchical structure based on monetary elitism---rather than a real meritocracy---whether dynastic or entrepreneurial/ruthless opportunism,>>

Funny thing though, I’ve noted that whenever the left is in the ascendancy. It inevitably moves to subvert meritocracy substituting in its place a centrally directed process that sees privilege and opportunity parceled out according to group membership.