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joether -> RE: What is the 'nanny state' ? (7/8/2010 1:21:10 PM)
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The 'Nanny State' as some of already pointed out, is a concept of distrust towards a govermental body. In the usual case (conservatives in the USA included), such a state, is when laws and regulations are imposed to correct moral, ethical, or some other social imbalance, and to bring justice to the people. They decry that people should be allowed to be stupid, unwise, and most of all....a danger to themselves and others around them. For conservatives, in the USA, it is often used as a buzz word or talking point; similar to 'Socialized Medicine' or that evil 'liberal media'. For conservatives, a 'Liberal State' is the same as a 'Nanny State' to them. Even though the two are surprisingly different in scope. The 'Nanny State' uses restrictions and penalties to ensure cooperation of the populous to order. A 'Liberal State' is one that incorporates some laws to nuture a direction of cooperation, believing time and patience will win over the ignorant masses.
A 'Conservative Nanny State' also exists, but quite the opposite concept. Yeah, how many conservatives on these boards know what that is? In this version of the Nanny State, conservatives want two major concepts to become ingrain in the populous:
A) A steady break down of laws, regulations and rules, that interupt profit. No, not commerce, nor industry, but compete net profit. The concept of 'Commerce' or 'Industry' implies rules and laws, things a conservative nanny state would hate to have. So, oil disaster in the Gulf, would be brushed off as a '...small oil problem that won't effect anything on shore'. Under the conservative nanny state, the media or those that would/could report on the facts, would be silenced in any number of ways.
B) For the populous to have a growing and deep-seated distrust of their goverment. To limit their goverment to the point that it could not do any real or meaningful measures against company profits. The populous votes in those whom are happy to serve as puppets to the company. Disasters and problems are over looked or minimized. The goverment, is essentially, a mockery of any real justice. The law enforcement takes a blind eye towards the company (whom is funding their operations) and its officals. So if a mid-level manager is caught murdering a competing company representative, or one of those 'lame civil rights activists', the matter is sweep under the rug.
Before the conservatives start to bitch (which they will), it would do wise to remeber, this kind of crap took place in the USA. Coal towns, steel industries, and even the textile markets along the East Coast, each had their company's pushing the conservative nanny state in to place. The federal goverment stepped in, and it took YEARS to battle the concept. Many laws were passed, like, the Sherman Act of 1890 (the anti-trust act, that broke up monopolizes and cartels). US Marshals and the early form of the FBI were used to break up the violence and threats of violence.
Today, Americans enjoy many of the benefits of these actions without even knowing it. Children are not forced to work at ages below 16. Forcing an employee to work 16 hours days without a break or rest. The creation of the National Labor Relations Board. Along with many civil rights issues worked in tandum with workforces concepts. Blacks, and other minorities being able to work, women allowed in to institutions that were regarded as a 'men only' club (like medicine). Organizations like the KKK were used by the companies. Organized labor (i.e. Unions) was formed to give workers rights and protections.
I could talk about unions, business and economic history of the USA all day. would be off topic....but very interesting! So essentially, as I stated before, the conservative nanny state has been observed in U.S. history in the last 200 years, and never for good reasons.
One final point regarding the State of Massachusets; Its a progressive state, NOT, a nanny state. Recently, Massachusetts became the 29th state to enforce a ban on the use of cellphones, pagers, smartphones, laptops, etc, when operating a motor vehicle. And the 'nanny state' conservatives have come out complaining that this will be a bad thing. Sorry, but I dont want to be killed by an idiot conservative, to stupid to know that texting on their IPod, while traveling 70 mph and not watching the road....IS A BAD THING!
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