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Monday, August 11, 2008
Give me bluntness over blarney
Give me a choice between the Nanny State and a grown-up state of mind, and I'll side with the grown-ups every time. And I'm pretty sure British Tory leader David Cameron will as well, given his refreshingly blunt views about the scourge of "moral neutrality."
Regrettably, however, our country is filled with all too many people who would rather avert their eyes than face up to some essential truths.
Posted by Terry O'Neill on August 11, 2008 in Current Affairs | Permalink
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British Tory leader David Cameron said: “Bad. Good. Right. Wrong. These are words that our political system and our public sector scarcely dare use any more. We talk about people being ‘at risk of obesity,’ instead of people who eat too much and take too little exercise. We talk of people being at risk of poverty, or social exclusion. It’s as if these things — obesity, alcohol abuse, drug addiction — are purely external events like a plague or bad weather.”
I agree with every word of this statement as well, Terry, but when people support the war on drugs to deal with addiction, they are supporting the Nanny State. When they support a ban on trans-fats to fight obesity, they are supporting the Nanny State. When they support zero-tolerance ignition interlock systems to denormalize alcohol use, they are supporting the Nanny State.
Cameron’s words would mean more to me if I thought he was prepared to make individuals face the consequences of their own poor choices. My guess is that he’s got his own Nanny State agenda ready to go.
Posted by: Matthew Johnston | 2008-08-11 3:21:09 PM
It's a fine line between Nanny State and a working state.
I know the general believe on this Site is that anybody who wants can, and those who can't just don't want to. Again, and ideology driven world view.
Out in the Real World things (and life) don't happen in a vaccum and there are always external circumstances that can "paint" someone in a corner.
In an ideal world, the playground would be evern so that everybody has a role to play, in reality of course that will never be the case.
As much as self responsibility is an integral part and is required, to dismiss any all all "whining" goes too far in the other direction and does not benefit society as a whole either.
Posted by: Snowrunner | 2008-08-11 3:40:53 PM
How true, especially since moral neutrality does not exist. To have the secular collectivist welfare religious views imposed on us is not moral neutrality. I would also argue that true moral neutrality is impossible, for in such a case theft, assault, rape and murder would have to be accepted and not against the law. So I accept these basic moral requirements as part and parcel of our civilisation and necessary. From there to government interference in how people run their lives and affairs is unacceptable.
I am not willing to jump to the conclusion of Matthew regarding Mr. Cameron's support of the nanny state. If however, he did advocate anything other than holding people responsible and accountable for their actions, I would no be able to give him the benefit of the doubt.
Posted by: Alain | 2008-08-11 3:46:08 PM
No not Snowey. Equality is myth and impossible, other than everyone being treated equally before the law. People are simply not all equal in physical strength, in intelligence, in ability, in physique nor in good looks. Sorry you do not like it, but no system will ever be able to change these hard facts.
Posted by: Alain | 2008-08-11 4:02:04 PM
Maybe I'm being too harsh, Alain -- but too often we view the meddling on the left as Nanny Statism, and the meddling on the right as good old fashion Law & Order. I’m sceptical that David Cameron is a “Leave Us Alone” conservative.
But you’re right, I shouldn’t jump to conclusions.
Posted by: Matthew Johnston | 2008-08-11 5:43:37 PM
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