PeanutTigerinBox
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quote:
ORIGINAL: Moonhead The nanny state is basically any state that does something you don't like, particularly if it infringes on something you can't do anymore through legislation. It's a term particularly beloved of the British red tops, I've noticed, who kicked up a massive shitfit over health and safety regulations when those were introduced. I think the derivation is that any government which tries to intefere with something that's working perfectly well for any member of the elite already is taking an authoritarian role and talking to the successful small businessman/armed rapist/Oil company/other the way a Victorian governess would treat her charges. "Nanny" as in Mary Poppins, dig? that's pretty well said to my view....let me compare it to the way how I grew up...in Germany...compared to living over here in the UK...I don't really put stuff behind it such as (due to different insurance system etc...I keep it blunt, as I think it is easier to understand). back home i could go to any GP, I could go to 10 different ones if I wanted to and could even take a 5 hour drive to one I wanted to see if I would want to... not over here in the UK...I came here the first time in 2004 and was ridicoulusly told from a few GP's that I would have to go the one where my employers are (I worked as a nanny at that time) ...it took me a while to find one who didn't come with that crap (as after all, I doubted that shop workers would also have to go to the GP where their boss was ). However, once I had finally registered with one I went back to Germany, so wasn't necessary... now...I came back half a year later, found an ok-ish GP and moved later again within the UK where then my first GP choice was not possible...as I am living at the wrong side of the road So fine, I chose another one where I then was told that I "just" live within their area...so they accepted me, but only "just." ==> so when you are used to be able to just go to any GP and now you are told to go to one in your area then it limits your choice and autonomy in deciding who is judging on your health...not something I like over here (that being said I am lucky to have the best GP I have ever had right now). Another example is that within my studies I had no influence whatsoever on my placement. Back home when you study social science as I did you have to organise your placement yourself, nobody does it for you. You either get your arse up and get one or you won't have one. A big plus on that one is that you can't complain about the placement you end up with as such, as after all you chose it.... Now...again, that doesn't work like that over here. the uni organises the placements and you aren't supposed to decline it. If you do you reach the bottom list of their importance of giving you a placement and might end up starting your placement very late indeed...IF they even manage to find one for you...I was actually lied into my first placement as my tutor had asked me if I would be willing to work in a hospice...no problem for me...well, once I went there for the interview I realised it isn't a hospice...it was a nursing home... But by then I was there for the interview and was supposed to take it...leaving me rather pissed off during the duration of that placement as I felt like wasting my time as with my work experience that environment was far from new to me Another example is the policy over here in regards to cleaning the footpaths at winter time... Back home we have to clear the footpath in front of your flat/house in winter times up to a certain time in the morning (don't know what the exact time is but we cleared it usually before 7am). If you don't do it and someone slipps out and gets hurt you are in charge as a person living there where it happened...Over here...forget it. I was told from several people that here the policy is the other way around. if you DO clear it and someone slipps out then you are legally in charge, if you just leave the snow and someone slipps out and get injured then the government is in charge about it...so people do it and it feels to me again a la "dont give the people too much responsibility or ability that they would be able to actually do it!" therefore whereas back home I can't remember one single time where I slipped out on a footpath in my 26 years over there...overe here it happened 4 times alone from february 09 to february 10. These are 3 examples which jumped straight into my mind for now...
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RIP 08/09/07 aka Phoenixpower one of my favourite songs :o) http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=l_CuY4nMu8c&feature=related
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