Definitions of:
nanny state - definition of nanny state by the Free Online Dictionary, Thesaurus and Encyclopedia.nanny state
n
(Government, Politics & Diplomacy) a government that makes decisions for people that they might otherwise make for themselves, esp those relating to private and personal behaviour
Definition of nanny state, Macmillan Dictionary: Free English Dictionary Online with Thesaurusa government that tries to protect its people and control their lives in a way that stops them being independent
nanny state ? Dictionary definition of nanny state | Encyclopedia.com: FREE online dictionarynanny state government institutions and practices of the Welfare State collectively, perceived as overprotective, interfering, or excessively authoritarian, a term apparently coined by the Conservative politician Iain Macleod (1913–70) in the Spectator in 1965.
We hear/see this term bandied about left, right and centre whenever the government, any government, makes decisions or policies that a certain demographic disagres with . . . lately we've seen it used extensively for the US' healthcare policy and, on the other end of the spectrum, L. Hamilton having his car impounded because he did some doughnuts on a public street.
The question is where does a government star to become a nanny state or is a government inherently a nanny state as it is charged with ensuring a set of governance for its population.
What rate tax should be seen as deciding a nanny state? 20%? 30% 40% 50%?
Should a government ensure that its population is medically covered and its citizens need not panic financially when they require medical aid?
Police. How far should a government have jurisdiction over police? After all, police salaries are paid for by taxes.
Fire Department . . . same as above. Should it be privatised so that it is a user-pays system? You get burgled and you can decide for yourself if you want the police involved. Your house catches fire, your decision to call the fire department and pay accordingly.
The armed forces. The government rules by majority vote (usually the case in the west) and has the mandate of the people to do as they see fit . . . start wars, stay out of them, pretend to stay out or get in . . .
Roads, bridges . . . general infrastructure. We expect our chosen leaders to provide us with a sound infrastructure . . . or do we? Is this already the outcome of a nanny state?
The examples are endless.
We expect our elected officials to provide us with what we deem to be the necessary and basic rights and platforms to live our life . . . but the level is always disputed.
Regulate the stock market or let it run self-regulated?
Food standards?
Research on non-profitable or long-term projects which would not be done by private enterprise
Have a government organisation test and vet all medicines to ensure they are safe or let the pharmaceutical companies take care of that themselves?
The same goes for the auto industry . . . safety guidelines or let the market decide if they want cheap and unsafe cars? Allow manufacturers to have high-safety or low-safety cars? No guidelines from the state?
Endless examples of how government is part and parcel of our every day life, from the time we wake up to when we are fast asleep, some functions of government are at work . . . but are they at work in our favour?
Functions of government:
WikiAnswers - What is the function of governmentGovernment has three purposes:
Provide for the common defense (against external threats)
Provide for the enforcement of contracts
Coin money to support trade
political system :: The functions of government -- Britannica Online EncyclopediaThe functions of government
In all modern states, governmental functions have greatly expanded with the emergence of government as an active force in guiding social and economic development. In countries with a command economy, government has a vast range of responsibilities for many types of economic behaviour. In those countries favouring social democracy, the government owns or regulates business and industry
What exactly do we expect from our governments?