Ah, The "Nanny State"...

I was listening to Fox News on cable the other day and I heard one of their political pundits talking about how the United States was in danger of becoming a "Nanny State". I had not heard that expression before, but being a person of somewhat dry and sarcastic humor, the cynical purpose of the phrase did not escape me. I began thinking about what a "Nanny State" is, or would be, and the more I considered the various applications of the term 'nanny' I realized how true this statement really is.


We are a country of fiercely independent minded people who regularly brag about the fact that we are free and can do what we want, when we want. - The problem is, we are allowing that freedom to be eaten up, piece by little piece by the myriad of government entities in our lives -city, county, state, and federal, to say nothing of utility districts, even home owner associations and club memberships. We have hundreds of forms of governments in our daily lives, each one competing with the next to issue rules telling us how and when to do things- and no matter which one is involved, they always act like the nice old 'nanny' just trying to help us because 'nanny' knows best, right? ...well, no, not really....

Lets see if I can give you an example of what I mean. Take the "seat belt law" as an example. Now we all know that it is just plain good sense to use your seat belt when driving a car and you are either lazy or an idiot of you don't fasten up, right? They put signs in your car, "remember to fasten your seat belt" and signs along the streets "seat belts save lives", they even put envelope stuffers in your car registration renewal to remind you to buckle up. The problem is-- that was not enough for our "Nanny State", they had to pass a law making it illegal to drive without your seat belt fastened. One little freedom just given away, but that was OK, because if someone was not using a seat-belt and got into an accident and had to go to the hospital, who would wind up paying for it? Us taxpayers, so we have a right, even an obligation to pass a law like that. After all, it is for the good of everyone, right? Well, not exactly. You see, that assumes the person driving did not have auto insurance to pay for his or her injuries themselves - which is not a valid assumption because, we are all required by the "Nanny State" to buy insurance before we drive in the first place!

No, this law was, in actuality, not good because it gave away our right to decide something for ourselves - our right to be stupid, I grant you, but our right never-the-less.

We seem to be doing that at an alarming rate. We made laws restricting smoking. Laws that said it was illegal to smoke in a public building or in a bar or restaurant. This was because the second hand smoke was dangerous to others. A good law, right? After all, is was for the good of the majority who would have to pick up the tab for all those smokers health problems. Of course, that again assumes they did not have insurance of their own - well that's OK because everyone knows smokers aren't hard working good citizens like the rest of us, right?.... (ah, wrong)........

Now, if you think giving up that little bit of freedom in the name of the public good (and for your own enforced good health) was acceptable, well that was not enough for the left wing, liberal, nannies. They pushed it and started passing laws that said you could not smoke on beaches (so we do not have to pay to pick up all those butts...) and then outside, within 20 feet of a line at a store or the entrance to a public building, then in hotel rooms, then in some parks, and then even some entire cities banned smoking! I even heard one person saying that they should make it illegal to smoke in your own home if you have children under 17 or pets.... Well, that's OK, I don't mind Big Brother looking in my shirt pocket or going through my closet to see if I have some cigarettes hidden in there, after all, it's for my own good, right? ---ehh, wrong....

The basic problem is, it seems to me, that we Americans are becoming lazy. We are just going along with the flow and allowing other people to make up some of these laws which are just silly when you stop and think about them. Another example, in some places it is illegal to give your child a spanking. Why? Why does the state have to look into the family home and tell a parent how to raise their kids. We already have laws protecting people (including children) from physical abuse or harm. Why did we need to tell parents they could not pat their kids on the butt when they need it? Because the liberal minded "nannies" decided they know more about raising children than the parents do - so in the name of the common good, everyone must conform to protect the children, right? ...ehhh....I don't think so.... The result has been another step towards the abandonment of parental responsibility and the degradation of the family unit and another set of our personal rights, just given away almost without notice.

The "Nanny State" attitude does not stop at our boarders. We are really, really good at telling other people and cultures the 'right way' to do things. An example is the idea that we need to export democracy. After all, that is simply the right way for people to be governed, right? And we are morally obligated to help the downtrodden, underdeveloped countries by giving the people their own, truly democratic government! Right? ....umm, well, let's think about that...

First, in order for a democracy to work, people have to vote. For people to vote, they need to be able to get to the polling places and they need to be able to read the ballot. Do we see to those needs when we set up a democracy for some underdeveloped country? Which do we build first? Polling places or schools? Which should we help create first, places to vote, or the roads to get to them? Which is most important, teaching them to raise crops or to read? Which should be the priority, ensuring that they have a democratic government or that they have food, shelter and an education?

Why do we always feel the need to tell others how to live? Because we have a better standard of living, a better way of life? Who says? We like it, yes. And others admire it, yes. But there are other ways. For some people, those other ways may be just fine for now, maybe even better for them in their circumstances.

Don't make the mistake of thinking we Americans do these things because we are evil and want to rule the world. Nothing could be further from the truth. We are a country full of really good people with the best of intentions. We just try too hard sometimes. We want to help, even when we aren't needed or wanted. And when we do help, we forget that sometimes it is important to go a little slower and think things through. My grand dad used to get mad at me when something happened and I came running up at full speed, all panting and excited. He used to say to me "If it is important enough for you to run to get there, it is important enough to go slow and be sure you get there in one piece and ready to work" - In other words, just slow down a little.

There is nothing wrong with giving a helping hand or telling some one how to do something, when you are asked. It is OK to step in to protect some one, when they need it - but we do it when we feel they need it, not always when they feel they need it.

Let's slow down this "Nanny State" mentality. The next time some one comes along and says: "There ought to be a law against that" - just take a moment and think about it before you just say "Yes, there ought to". Before we tell the people of Lower Tutinisi that they have a corrupt government and what they need are democratic elections, let's make sure they know who's running; how to read the ballot; and won't starve to death waiting to get the votes counted...

It isn't hard. Really it isn't. Just do not assume something is true at first glance. All we need to do is use a little common sense and think before acting - it is amazing how much better we Americans really are at doing things when we take the time to think them through first.