Tuesday, 25 July 2006

Nanny State on a Bun

Tony Blair has told the food industry that it faces the Hobson's choice of "censor or be censored" when it comes to food advertisements. According to the BBC,
"I think I used to be very much in the bracket of those who say 'the nanny state' - it is not for the state to tell us what to do," he told the BBC's Mark Easton.

But, he added, successful anti-smoking campaigns and the campaign to make school dinners more healthy had helped to change his mind.
Translation: Mr. Blair was against curtailing personal freedoms until he discovered how satisfying it was to control people's lives.

For their own good, of course. Ever and always for their own good.

1 comment:

Anonymous said...

I see what you're saying about power corrupting, and the 1984 reference is funny, but the point of censorship in 1984 was to control the populace by removing their access to information that could undermine the state. Tony Blair preventing already powerful fast food companies from advertising to children doesn't really fall into the same category. While there are some aspects of changes in the UK that might presage a Big Brother-esque state, I doubt this one should be ringing any major alarm bells unless your name is Ronald McDonald.