So what really works? Treatments in jail do some good, but it's mostly too late: finding a family and a job or just growing older make most prisoners eventually give up crime. Polly Toynbee crimeeventuallyfamily Change image and share on social
Crime is only the worst example, but it is a paradigm for other Labour policy disasters. No one tells the voters that crime is falling: let them stay scared senseless. Polly Toynbee badcrimedisaster Change image and share on social
It is now possible to quantify people's levels of happiness pretty accurately by asking them, by observation, and by measuring electrical activity in the brain, in degrees from terrible pain to sublime joy. Polly Toynbee accuratelyactivitybrain share on social
Inequality makes everyone unhappy, the poor most of all, and that is well within the remit of the state. More money gives less extra happiness the richer we get, yet we are addicted to earning and spending more every year. Polly Toynbee addictearnextra share on social
But the single overwhelming reason why jails are bursting is longer sentences given for more crimes. Polly Toynbee burstcrimejail Change image and share on social
Could a government dare to set out with happiness as its goal? Now that there are accepted scientific proofs, it would be easy to audit the progress of national happiness annually, just as we monitor money and GDP. Polly Toynbee acceptannuallyaudit share on social
The strongest predictor of unhappiness is anyone who has had a mental illness in the last 10 years. It is an even stronger predictor of unhappiness than poverty - which also ranks highly. Polly Toynbee highlyillnessmental Change image and share on social
The best care on earth cannot prevent us all dying in the end. Polly Toynbee caredieearth Change image and share on social
This is indeed a clash of civilisations, not between Islam and Christendom but between reason and superstition. Polly Toynbee christendomcivilisationclash Change image and share on social
Openness about death has led to greater care about all aspects of dying. Polly Toynbee aspectcaredeath Change image and share on social
