Sunday 22 June 2008

Hold the Front Page

There are five stories on the front page of today's Scotland on Sunday.

First we have this:

The Scottish Government last month unveiled controversial new plans to curb smoking, by proposing a ban on cigarettes being displayed in shops. And ministers south of the border have suggested scrapping packs of 10 cigarettes because of their popularity among young smokers.

Then this one:

BUSINESSES will be encouraged to monitor the weight of their employees as part of a £56m Government plan to tackle Scotland's obesity epidemic.

Workers will type in their weight every morning – using Government-provided software – allowing occupational health staff to spot significant weight gain and offer early help, under the scheme unveiled by ministers. The Government also plans to appoint a full-time official charged with liaising with Scottish food firms and encouraging them to make products healthier.

And if that's not enough read this:

A GOVERNMENT minister has drawn a link between the damage to society caused by child pornography and people who drink too much at home.

Justice Secretary Kenny MacAskill, right, made the comparison as he justified the state cracking down on private behaviour which creates public harm. He said excessive drinking at home "impacts on the rights of others" by making demands on the health service, and often harms family and community life.

Now here this: LEAVE US ALONE. The only proper role of government is to defend us from those who initiate force or fraud. Government isn't our nanny.

The fourth story is about Zimbabwe. We haven't gone that far yet but sometimes one wonders...

Story number five is about Sean Connery.

The government now wants to regulate our smoking, eating and drinking. Where's James Bond when we need him?

1 comment:

David Farrer said...

Comments made on previous template:

Jeff
"Send them the bill." 
 
Oooh, didn't see that coming. This libertarian lark doesn't seem so bad after all...!

23 June 2008, 16:17:14 GMT+01:00
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Sam Duncan
I read a story in another of yesterday's papers in which a Government type talked of "the proper role of employers in providing information on sexual health". There was no suggestion that employers might have no role in something that isn't any of their damn business. 
 
(I understand they intend to force people to place propaganda on their employees' computers - possibly part of the same Plan as the "obesity" thing there.)

23 June 2008, 15:55:38 GMT+01:00
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David Farrer
...then it is absolutely the place of Government to do something about it. 
 
Absolutely. 
 
Send them the bill.

23 June 2008, 14:40:37 GMT+01:00
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Jeff
I would argue that if the cost of looking after all these smokers, drinkers and chip-guzzlers when they inevitably stagger into hospital becomes exorbitantly high then it is absolutely the place of Government to do something about it.

23 June 2008, 13:50:40 GMT+01:00
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Martin
The answer to your question is, probably enjoying a medium dry vodka Martini, shaken, not stirred, with a fag in his hand.

23 June 2008, 07:25:26 GMT+01:00