Freedom and the welfare state
Wednesday, May 28, 2008 Last week I had dinner with Shane Frith, director of Progressive Vision, a new classical liberal think tank, and his colleague Mark Littlewood. Mark is former head of media for the Liberal Democrats, and before that he worked for the civil rights group Liberty.
On today's Free Society blog, Mark addresses a fundamental truth when he writes:
If the essential premises of the welfare state – universal healthcare free at the point of use from cradle to grave and the education of children paid for and controlled by the state – continue to go unchallenged then as night follows day, our own lifestyle choices will be abdicated to the state too.
Unless individuals are obliged to bear direct personal financial responsibility for their own actions, the state will inevitably seek to ban – or at least deter – activities that lead to increased public expense or diminished revenues.
If we really want to roll back the nanny state, we need to tackle the cosy, welfarist consensus that gives rise to it.
Full article HERE. Comments welcome.
Reader Comments (10)
...hen how is it that smoking bans were enforced in the USA before they came here?
'then' not 'hen' (sorry).
I now see our completely loony government wants us be sold unbranded packets cigarettes; see:
"Unbranded cigarette packets plan in new crackdown on smoking"
http://www.guardian.co.uk/uk/2008/may/31/smoking.tobaccoindustry
What a total waste of time and becoming an even bigger vote looser. Oh well, anybody want to take any bets on how many Labour MPs are going to be on the dole soon?
Blad. This government only knows how to waste money. Remember, they started this off by attacking the Welfare State, claiming many claimants did not want to work and were costing the taxpayers billions of pounds a year. Perhaps this might be true in some cases but when they see the lunacy of politicians salaries and expense allowances - can we blame them. The trouble with politicians is that they have to been seen to be doing something.All they are actually doing is 'buck passing' as usual.
Didn't Gordon Brown criticise the assasins of Benazir Bhutto as not wanting Democracy. Well at least they had democracy. We don't.
An interesting post over at http://iaindale.blogspot.com/
See "Ban smoking......"
55 comments to date - predominantly anti NuLiebour health facism.
Perhaps the tide is turning...............
Now we shall see proper tobacconists going bust too and more businesses plus jobs lost. Another vote looser for the government. I really cannot fathom why it has such a death wish unless of course it wants to take as many people's livelihoods with it as it can.
Pity slimy "Dave" has the same degree of dishonesty and stupidity on the tobacco issue too. I am, as I have said, looking forward to the richly deserved demise of this government. However, as matters stand, the Tories will achieve a landslide victory which will not be good for the country either (not for anybody). The reason for this is, of course, obvious. Governments with big majorities take no notice of their citizens. Considering Dave has enough arrogance and conceit to sink a battleship (and these same qualities will also sink him) then don't expect him to do pursue anything other than the things HE wants to however stupid and unjust they may be.
Well said in all the above posts, I agree with you all.
A thought occurred to me with regard to this plain packaging for cigarettes, being rather cynical (can't think why!) - if we are the only country to go this far then it will be far easier to spot those smoking cigarettes brought in from abroad. Wonder how long it will be before Big Brother is targetting those of us who buy abroad, legally and legitamately? Will we end up with stop and search just as those who were seen smoking a legal spliff and who were searched, just to see that they weren't carrying enough to charge them with supplying?
As I have said before - none of the 3 major parties will bring any radical changes with them, our only hope is for the populace to turn radical and vote for anyone except the 3 main parties! If only!
I've started saving all my empty packs already!
Will cigarette cases become fashionable again? I assume it will be legal to make them.
Cigarette cases are already available in the pound shop. Some very nice designs, the only trouble is trying to find one without an embossed ganja leaf!!