Comments on: Would Libertarianism Lead to More Baby Ps? http://archive.sharpesopinion.co.uk/2008/12/would-libertarianism-lead-to-more-baby-ps/ The Weblog of Stuart Sharpe Sat, 02 Jan 2010 00:29:58 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.9.1 hourly 1 By: ladytizzy http://archive.sharpesopinion.co.uk/2008/12/would-libertarianism-lead-to-more-baby-ps/#comment-610 ladytizzy Wed, 03 Dec 2008 18:01:46 +0000 http://stuartsharpe.co.uk/?p=1408#comment-610 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. 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.

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