something i've always wondered

[the_siobhan]

What does "nanny-state" mean?

I've seen conservatives throw the term around so it's obviously meant to be something bad, but what does it actually mean?

Comments

[jo]

It's when the government over-interferes in your ability to do things, like here in Ontario, not allowing beer and wine in corner shops like they do in Quebec, and setting up government-run LCBO-style cannabis stores rather than just establishing a proper regulatory framework for all of the private shops that had opened up and are now forced out of business. Basically treating responsible adults like idiots.

[sabotabby]

This, but it's also dogwhistle for the government doing anything these days. Like, say, regulating day care or water quality or providing social services.

[elusis]

Yes, this.

[greylock]

Also this (but upside down).

[cincinnatus_c]

Definitely this. But doing the hokey pokey.

[ironed_orchid]

What Sabs said.

[the_siobhan]

I tend to think of things like that as "stupid compromises that have to made because the conservatives want everything illegal and have convinced their supporters that access will turn the country into The Purge."

I may be a little fuzzy on the actual details though.

[jo]

Except it's not conservatives who are the most nanny-statish, it tends to be "progressive" parties -- left-wing parties tend to be the most in favour of this sort of crap. A proper liberal (small L, not the Liberal Party) party/centrist/centre-right party would favour less regulation and less state control of things like alcohol, cannabis, etc. That's why I had a modicum of hope when Ford said he'd consider letting private shops sell pot, until he quickly backtracked once the "progressives" started jumping on that statement. The Ontario Liberals have moved so far to the left that there's hardly any difference now between them and the NDP. It's just a bunch of totally shit choices all around. Except for maybe the Greens. Will have to check them out more closely.

[the_siobhan]

That surprises me, usually the conservatives are all, "Just throw 'em in jail." That was certainly Rob's approach.

Regardless, even though it's stupid I don't think it's an issue worth throwing the entire province under the bus for.

[greylock]

This is so far from my understanding of any definition of Nanny State.... I'm not sure how to unpack it.

In my experience, it tends to be used mostly by the right/conservatives for *sough* STATE OVERREACH! Like, stopping the ammosexuals fondle their guns in public, or requiring there be no lead in water, or coat tailings in drinking sources.

Here, it tends to pop up mostly in stuff like sin taxes (booze - and the proposals for a floor price here count; tobacco, and such.

But, you know, nothing that, say, the Church might want to regulate. Like abortion (it's big in Ireland) or sex.

[conuly]

But, you know, nothing that, say, the Church might want to regulate. Like abortion (it's big in Ireland) or sex.

Oh, yes, when the government tries to backdoor a ban for abortion or quibbles over whether or not certain people should be allowed to use public bathrooms or institutes obscenely heavy penalties for what is really a relatively mild (but associated with black people) drug, somehow that's not the "nanny state" at all.

[conuly]

That's what conservatives claim they mean, but mostly - at least here in the US - they mean things like "I don't want the gubmint giving welfare to poor (black, hispanic) people, I want the schools privitized, shut down the EPA, BOOTSTRAPS!!!!"

It's gotten to the point where I can't hear the term "personal responsibility" without cringing. I like to think that in a society, we all have a little responsibility towards each other. The so-called "nanny state" is why you can drink the water... and the lack of it is why, in places like Flint (poor, majority black, hispanic), you can't.

[tcpip]

It's usually about excess regulation or prohibition of personal choice activities (e.g.. various adult entertainments). However it also seems to suggest an attack on social welfare.

[cincinnatus_c]

"Nanny state" alert! The "nanny state" is covering slides because they get too hot! Which is a bit more of a literal take on "nanny state": the state looking after children instead of their parents.