September 05, 2003
THE MINISTER OF CHILDREN?
Nappy helpline to support parents (Rachel Sylvester, Telegraph, 9/6/03).
Parents will be able to ring a Government helpline for advice on anything from changing nappies to dealing with drugs, under plans being drawn up by Margaret Hodge, the minister for children. . . .If life were a fairy tale, or even a mediocre thriller, the Minister For Children would be a much more sinister figure. But how she can pretend that this isn't -- literally -- the Nanny State is beyond me. Posted by David Cohen at September 5, 2003 08:50 PMMrs Hodge, who publishes a Green Paper on children on Monday, said the Government needed to do more to encourage parents.
"Having kids is a pretty selfish thing," she said.
"People have got to understand the influence they have on those bundles they bring into the world. Parents have a huge responsibility." . . .
Critics will accuse the Government of "nanny stateism" in meddling in families' private affairs.
But Mrs Hodge said: "If these things were compulsory that would be intrusive, but if they're simply available then that's not the nanny state."
"Having children is a pretty selfish thing."
Huh?
I'd rebut that if I could guess the reasoning behind it. Anyone?
Posted by: Mike Earl at September 5, 2003 10:47 PMYeah, I worked on that one for a while but came up empty. I could have made up some darwinian gene thing, but even that seems a little farfethed.
Posted by: David Cohen at September 5, 2003 11:12 PMI think she's taking for granted the old limited growth/impending ecologocal disaster school of thought that continues to animate the left.
Posted by: Tom C., Stamford,Ct. at September 6, 2003 12:17 PMThat phone line will make the Maytag repair man's phone seem hyper-active in comparison.
Posted by: Regards, Jeff Guinn at September 6, 2003 09:06 PM