Sharpe's Opinion
Tuesday, 2nd Dec, 2008
Would Libertarianism Lead to More Baby Ps?
I meant to link to this earlier, but didn’t for reasons which remain a mystery. Also worth checking out is the Letter From a Libertarian in response
I do believe in the state to a certain extent – but I think the state’s primary focus should be protecting the people from threats to their lives, foreign and domestic. In order to do this, the social services need to work effectively and efficiently to protect the lives of children – and that should be their primary focus. I’m not certain what that makes me. I know I’m not a Libertarian, because I actually agree with CCTV cameras in most instances. I also don’t froth at the mouth over speed cameras, nor smoking bans, nor George Orwell. Ergo I can’t be a Libertarian…
Of course, you are right that the overriding principle of a government is to protect its people. That is normally assumed to mean to defend its people from foes of the state, rather than a social worker, copper, or Damian Green.
The problems you highlight are, in my opinion, due to a conflict of interests in politically motivated affairs within local government.
I despair of the Tories wishing to hand more power to councils. Whereas I have reasonable trust in the average MP, I have none in the average councillor. As has been shown regularly for a bit of TV ‘fun’, a sizeable number have no idea who their MEP or MP is. How many know the name and links of their local councillor?
The most vulnerable in our society are at the mercy of social services, and those within who only wish to climb the greasy pole of a nice little earner, or of local politics, or both. Not all, I’m sure, but I’ve yet to meet one who doesn’t fit in to one of the the above categories, after decades of dealing with them.
ladytizzy
December 3, 2008 at 6:01 pm