Moving the Needle

Is moving the needle a tired cliche? As I keep reflecting on what's ahead, I also keep thinking on how we can all move the needle towards a better life and quality of life for all.  At least Seattle uses the phrase in their environmental agenda.

I think we need a clear and simple way to measure how people's lives get improved.  Some thoughts are:

1. Increased amount of joyful time in life (in both relative and absolute terms)
2. Decreased amount of total painful time in life  (in both relative and absolute terms)
3. Decreased cost of food (as for example decreased real cost of 1 oz of protein)
4. Decreased cost of housing
5. Decreased cost of energy.

How do YOU think we should measure improvements?