An interesting article in today's Sunday Star Times: It is time to scrap the term 'nanny state'.I suspect it is a media release direct from the 9th floor, because it has no author name attached to the opinion. At a time when the nanny state is so active, the article makes a feeble attempt to convince people to drop the term.
"The nanny state is a cliche and an obstacle to clear thought. It's time to drop it from the political lexicon."
Even as the mouthpiece for the government makes those claims, they suggest that people's habits are formed at a young age. The solution? Get the State even more involved in raising children and making laws. It's the only possible solution, and it isn't going to help matters if we bandy about terminology that insinuates their necessary help is not appreciated.
Banning pies and adding folate to bread is just the tip of the iceberg. We need to get used to more government intervention and accept it for what it is - and it is not the actions of a nanny state. Nanny says so.