California is pushing happiness, but people are worried

(CALMATTERS) – In the latest survey by the Public Policy Institute of California, most California adults (55%) said that the state is headed in the wrong direction and that they can trust the state government to do the right thing “only some of the time.” A solid majority also expect “bad financial times” for the country within the next year.These worries aren’t going unnoticed by the Legislature, in particular former Assembly Speaker& Anthony Rendon& of Lakewood. His& pet project leading a select committee on happiness& recently issued its final report.& Rendon, in the report: “In our 175-year history as a state, the California State Assembly has not considered how California can improve the happiness of its people. Happiness is seen as a byproduct of the work we do to build housing, improve education, and boost wages, among other things. … But is that all that leads to happiness?”The committee, which met three times since March, concluded that unhappiness is growing across the state.Other key findings:Seven of the top 10 happiest counties are on the coast, and have higher-than-average median income levels. Meanwhile, 9 of the 10 unhappiest counties are inland;  People living in poverty are three times more likely to...