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Theme : paternalism
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I'm fine. Stop curing me | Mick Hume - Times Online
Writes: 'As René Dubos wrote in 1960, “it is part of the doctor's function to make it possible for his patients to go on doing the pleasant things that are bad for them - smoking too much, eating and drinking too much - without killing themselves any sooner than is necessary”. There must be more to life than healthy living. Amid the talk of rights and responsibilities, one that gets ignored is the individual's right to make the “wrong” choices.'
from : duncanoleary
4th January 2008
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Stumbling and Mumbling: Bansturbation: sub-optimal
Chris Dillow on Pigovian taxes versus bans.
from : duncanoleary
27th October 2007
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Unveiled: radical prescription for our health crisis - Independent Online Edition > Health
Julian Le Grand goes for Liberal Paternalism as the solution to public health issues: policies should be framed so the healthy option is automatic and people have to choose deliberately to depart from it
from : duncanoleary
23rd October 2007
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Obesity Policy and the Law of Unintended Consequences
Article from the USA skeptical about public health interventions. Argues that obesity may be a rational response to changing circumstances (technology/prices etc)
from : duncanoleary
23rd October 2007
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Guardian Unlimited Politics | David Cameron's speech to RSA on civility
Argues:
- 'social responsibility' is not laissez faire but a framework of incentives
- govt. cannot be neutral on the family
- devolution creates ownership and responsibility (draws parallel with owning council houses)
from : duncanoleary
5th June 2007
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Comment Central: Zero case for lying
The deputy chief medical officer, said that the change was meant to send “a strong signal” to the thousands of women...But she admitted that it was not in response to any new medical evidence.
This is merely the latest instalment of an extremely dangerous development. The public health profession has long seen itself as having a political role in making us behave as it wishes, rather than simply providing us with information.'
from : duncanoleary
25th May 2007
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MORI: Citizens Have Their Say
Page with link to MORI polling, which finds that a majority of the public agrees both that:
“The Govt should do more
to protect people by
passing laws that ban
dangerous activities”
..and:
“The Govt does not trust
ordinary people to make
their own decisions about
dangerous activities”
from : duncanoleary
22nd May 2007
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The pensions bill explained
Mentions Turner reccomendation for the introduction of a national savings scheme, which would see employees automatically enrolled in company pensions...and the white paper plan for a national pensions saving scheme in which employees will be automatically enrolled in workplace pension schemes unless they choose to opt out.
from : duncanoleary
1st May 2007
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Overcoming Inertia (pdf)
Quote on 'liberal paternalism':
'Don’t seek to overcome people’s inertia, use it'
from : duncanoleary
1st May 2007
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The New, Soft Paternalism - New York Times
Exploring the ethics of 'soft paternalism':
'what if the government could somehow step in and nudge them in the right direction without interfering with their liberty, or at least not very much? Welcome to the new world of “soft paternalism.” The old “hard” paternalism says, We know what’s best for you, and we’ll force you to do it. By contrast, soft paternalism says, You know what’s best for you, and we’ll help you to do it.'
from : duncanoleary
1st May 2007
