Yes I remember something about this before, but I suppose the real motivation for a politician in all this ..is not that we are all rolling about piddling ourselves in idle frivolous hysterics, but is more probably to do with the re-election factor. If the hording masses are happy as two larry's under a specific government, then they are probably more than likely to vote the same buggers back in !
So its a sales game. If you sell the great unwashed the idea that we are a happy nation then lo and behold you could do a run for as long as ermmm.. Mrs Thatcher?
However the wellbeing factor is likely to take a hammering with continuous rising food and untilty prices