LOS ANGELES No matter how strange this sounds: California established the Happiness Committee to increase the happiness and well-being of Californians.
Let’s get the facts on the table first. California is not only the most prosperous state in the United States and the largest in terms of total production, but also the fifth largest economic power in the world, right after Japan. Technology companies from California’s Silicon Valley, such as Apple, Google and Intel, are the world’s innovation leaders.
Hollywood stars and other world’s most envied celebrities, such as the prince, live under the Californian sun Harry, Jennifer Aniston and Lady Gaga. Measured by the number of billionaires (186), California is number one. The richest person in the state is the owner of Meta Mark Zuckerbergwhose assets are $177 billion.
California also has Disneyland, an amusement park known for its Disney characters and roller coaster rides, the iconic Venice Beach, the driest, lowest, and hottest place on Earth, Death Valley, and the opportunity to hike the state end-to-end along the Pacific Crest hiking trail. The route sometimes runs along the shores of the Pacific Ocean, sometimes in the amazing landscapes of Yosemite and other national parks.
California has pleasant summer weather all year round. Sun, palm trees and a sandy beach attract tourists. You can go skiing and surfing in the same day, even if you live near the beach in Los Angeles.
Despite these amazing settings, the chairman of California’s new Happiness Committee Anthony Rendon gladly listens to advice from Finland.
After all, Finland has been measured as the happiest country in the world for seven years in a row.
– The emphasis on the individual in the United States has been criticized a lot. Individual focus helps to achieve great things, but the price for society, family and happiness is heavy, says Rendon.
Rendon knows that individual goals are linked to the goals of society as a whole in countries whose population has been measured as happy.
Finnish type of happiness or rather well-being is based on the variables measured by the UN happiness report, which are social support, income, health, freedom, generosity and corruption. In the happiest country in the world, people trust the decision-makers, feel safe, and society’s well-being is high.
A tough price
Rendon talks about the heavy price paid for individualism. The smile freezes behind the shiny scenes of California.
The American dream, i.e. your own home, is now within the reach of only a few, as the average price of a detached house in the state is almost 700,000 dollars.
California has too the highest cost of living throughout the United States. They are between 10,000 and 18,000 dollars per person per year in the country. According to 2021 statistics, the average cost of living in California was over $53,000 per year, but over $70,000 in core Los Angeles areas.
Income differences are the fourth largest in the country. And as many as one in three Californians live in or on the verge of poverty.
The number of homeless peopleover 180,000 , is on the rise. Also violent crimes are being done in the state more than a few years ago, and in Los Angeles, homicides have increased by almost ten this year compared to 2023.
For decades, social, political and economic innovation drew people from all over the world to California in search of happiness and success. California is still the largest state in the United States by population (more than 39 million), but migration has slowed. In 2021 and 2022, California experienced a migration loss because many can no longer afford it live under the eternal sun.
In the video, Anthony Rendon explains why he considers the happiness committee important.
California has also become a topic of conversation in the presidential elections. Republican presidential candidate Donald Trump has painted a picture of California as an excessively liberal and corrupt place and blames it on his opponent Terrible Harris, most recently during his visit to California in September. Harris is the Democratic presidential candidate and hails from Oakland, California.
Huge debts
So how happy are ordinary Californians?
Kevin Lu is just coming from work. He works as a waiter in a restaurant in addition to studying information technology.
Lu lives in Culver City. It is a small town west of Los Angeles and is known for Sony’s film studios.
– I have huge student debts and can’t even afford health insurance. The cost of living here is far too high. My entire salary goes to pay the bills, says Lu.
Waitresses in Culver City make an average of $15 an hour, but a year of college costs at least $35,000 a year. Lu blames the problems on corrupt decision-makers.
– Improving things should start from healthcare and education. After that, we can fix other shortcomings.
Walking his dog in Culver City Laura Migeotte is on the same lines as Lu.
– I would be happier if housing and living costs were more reasonable here.
Migeotte, who works as a purchasing planner, has heard that education and healthcare are free in Finland.
– University studies should be possible for everyone here as well, and everyone should be able to afford to take care of their health. Now people have to go to the emergency room when they need basic healthcare services. Even though taxes are high here too, we don’t get anything in return, says Migeotte.
The beginning of change
According to Anthony Rendon, the conversation about happiness is just beginning in California. The state established the committee earlier this year.
– Social safety nets and the predictability of life instead of uncertainty are important factors. They would also benefit the economy and society as a whole, Rendon formulates.
Rendon participated in a panel discussion on happiness organized by the Consulate General of Finland in Los Angeles in September.
So there seems to be an interest in the productization of Finnish happiness in California. Any plans for that?
Consul General of Finland Okko-Pekka Salmimies acknowledges that “Finnish happiness” has not been productized, but admits that there would be room for further refinement.
– Peer learning and sharing experiences with the California Happiness Committee is one possibility, Salmimies states.