Get a (real) life, Strayan. Consider being a fantasy writer on a woman's magazine. Not even a hint of irony. You have condemned yourself as a wannabe tryhard.

Yep, 100% silk trousers lisamaree. They feel wonderful, like I'm not wearing any.

Well we know Remote centreman certainly doesn't have a pair.

Layard this, Layard that. Hamilton this, Hamilton that. The most that can be said about that article is that there weren't any spelling mistakes. This article just regurgitates bits and pieces of Richard Layard's Book. And that wasn't any good either. Next time online opinion should just post a book review by someone that actually knows what they're talking about. At least that way we'd get an informed comment instead of the holier than thou, patronising rubbish contained in this article.

Clive Hamilton's just a self interested Canberra yuppy, all talk, with no practical solutions to society's supposed ills. As for Layard, he's just creative with his numbers and shoddy with his conclusions. Read Johan Norbergs take on Layard here: http://www.cis.org.au/exechigh/Eh2005/EH30505.htm

Strayan, And some of us also know that we wouldn't want a pair of poof pants, if someone gave them to us, but as an earlier poster said, whatever turns you on. Those of us who find happiness in the simple life, couldn't give a toss about such things, personally I feel really sad for you, that you need so many material things to be happy, but hey, it's your life, not mine. All I can say is "clothes do not maketh the man" but good luck to you, it is always better to be happy, rather than sad.

I completely agree with the notion that wealth does not maky you happy (it need not make you sad either).

However I find it offensive that socialists use this fact as a defence of statist taxation policies.

If wealth does not lead to happiness then redistributionist policies don't maky anybody happier. In fact the act of forceably removing peoples property is divisive irrespective of how the proceeds are distributed.

What makes me happy is building useful things. What annoys me is when some petty thug, wearing a suit and called a government official steal it away in the name of social "justice".

Does a desire not to always have the latest knicknacks and gizmoes, make one a socialist? Perhaps socialism will make us leftie whine bags who don't agree with the "must haves" happier. Imagine the joy of driving a government issue car, eating a meal of potato soup from the People's Market Garden, and going to work at your Govt issue job in your Govt issued boiler suit. You push your car home at the end of the day to watch Govt produced programs on the Govt owned TV station on your Govt issued television set. Yeah I will be lining up for that lifestyle.

Apparently thats what some people who post on this thread think the world will be like with less plasma screens, and $7000 BBQ's, designer labelled clothes, fine dining, etc.