The truth is out there ...

its just that some people don't what you to know it. The simple truth is that nanny state public health interventions really are nanny state interventions. At Offsetting Behaviour Eric Crampton notes that George Thompson, one of the usual suspects at Otago at Wellington's Public Health department, warns that his preferred nanny state interventions are increasingly being accurately labelled as nanny state. Knowing this simple truth is, in George's view, a bad thing, He says

“There’s a need to reframe public health activity as stewardship that protects people. Governments are expected to balance the public good against the interests of big business, and to care for the vulnerable in society. We need to create the language to reflect this, which looks behind slogans and the stereotyping of opposition to unhealthy products.”

Dr Thomson said there’s a need to reframe and analyse businesses that inflict health damage to people, as leeches on society.

This Orwellian world view has been rightly attacked by Liberty Scott. George Thompson is of the view that,

“The increased use of these terms [nanny state] appears to be driven by industries that are afraid of increased control over the marketing of unhealthy products"

But Liberty Scott points out the truth to George,

No it's not Dr Thomson, it is as much by individuals afraid of you controlling our choices in our lives. You don't get this, it is called freedom. Many people, fully aware of the risks, don't want to be told how to live their lives by do gooders.

Thomson is,

The lead presenter of research into how media articles framed public health initiatives

and he,

told delegates in Dunedin the use of negative language (such as political correctness, or bureaucracy) stereotyped and undermined those initiatives.

This guy get funding to research "how media articles framed public health initiatives"? I'm glad to see our tax dollars are being spent so wisely ...... NOT! I can't help but think there are more important issues in public health than "how media articles framed public health initiatives". Especially when the media are telling the truth, for once.