Happiness

I was sad yesterday, when I read about how Bhutan, was the last country in the world to have access to television in 1999. I was sad not because they were slow, but because... there goes the last unpolluted set of minds.  Introduction to television, many in Bhutan complained, has affected their Gross National Happiness.  Crime wave also followed.*

I remember reading about another similar case before, in a book about global economy. About how a small village, i think around Nepal, used to have people who were generally HAPPY and contented with the little, simple things they had.  They had shelter and enough food, for everyone.

THEN, global economy was introduced. They were promised more 'happiness', more money (which previously they had not much need for).  And after that, people grew 'poorer' and found that they are not able to live with the new standards.  There were less happiness and everyone starts to envy the other one, for something that the other have.  

Is it a surprise that happiness does NOT lie in the LV bag or the clothes from guess?;
NOt also from wealth or anything from the west?


*source
http://www.informationweek.com/internet/showArticle.jhtml?articleID=206905655