Not a Nanny State - a grown up state that does it’s job
Addiction Economy Thought for Today - we don't need a Nanny State we need a grown up government which does it's job.
Aveek Bhattacharya has written an excellent article here in the FT about the nanny state. (Gift receipt for 3 clicks below)
He explains that contrary to the views of politicians the public are supportive of policies to restrict health-harming industries (and support measures to stop global warming says research in an article on the opposite page by Pilita Clark - How to do climate policy in the age of the green backlash. Here https://lnkd.in/ezXe37sH) )
There was minimal public backlash to the sugar tax, support for recent proposed tobacco restrictions and our research shows in fact that citizens are concerned that there is not more being done to prevent health harming industries flourishing.
Perhaps it is the same as the science and tech world I have been studying for the last 20 years that fear of a public backlash is running the show, and that the problem is more in the minds of politicians and media than citizens themselves?
Aveek then goes on to question whether Labour has the stomach for it or will it just be talk:
"For all Starmer’s tough talk, the key question is whether Britain’s politicians really are ready to tackle the country’s bad habits...
"....would a Labour government raise alcohol duty or introduce minimum pricing in England? Would it tax unhealthy food? Would it license tobacco retailers? Would it introduce strict affordability checks on gamblers? Each of these measures would provoke fierce resistance from backbenchers, the media and industry, and eat up vital political capital. It remains to be seen whether politicians believe firmly enough in the benefits of such measures to pay the cost. Ignore the rhetoric: the nanny state war has yet to be won."
We think part of the problem is citizens are not involved enough in the decision-making process of developing solutions. Involving citizens as well as health professionals and those most impacted by the problems being addressed, will give politicians more backbone and greater legitimacy for those policies.
We don't need a Nanny State, where a finger wagging adult tells us, the children, what is going to happen and what we must do. That is patronising and infantilising. We need a grown up government which stands up to vested interests which are harming the citizens who voted them in. It seems they need help seeing that.
A politician I admire greatly told me recently 'help me do my job, get media coverage about these issues, give me evidence to persuade my colleagues'. They need help to do the right thing. Let's get to it.