Updated 03-Aug-2025
First, happiness is multidimensional. Second, happiness can be measured. And third, happiness cannot be dictated (though, indeed, there is a significant role for lawmakers and politicians).
Happiness does not come from the barrel of gun. That is a concept only for armchair generals who never fought a war and still live inside some kind of neocon fantasy. That is what the term dictator is meant to convey. A dictator merely dictates, neither understands the complexity, nor is willing to take the steps to actually increase the quality of life of those he purports to lead. After all the talk about good people what we really mean is good people who have a good life.
By focusing on good people and not good life, the dictator makes it about us and them. The us of course being the people who follow the dictator, and the them being those who do not.
Instead, focus on the good life and the enemy becomes a situation, rather than a set of people. Change the situation, positively impact the life of the people and indeed, greater happiness can be achieved.
The first place to start should be the life of the people in terms of lives and lifespans. A life cut short has no quality at all. A child who drowns, a motorist killed on the roadway, the elders who die of liver cancer. All of these things are known evils that can be improved. And indeed, this kind of achievement is possible in Thailand, and possible through the actions of government.