Nanny State Rant

Tuesday's Daily Press reported a change in Virginia's motor vehicle inspection system proposed in Gov. Kaine's budget. The Governor wants to move from annual to bi-annual inspections and raise the fee to be revenue neutral. Of course this isn't service neutral, you get half the inspection for the same price. The article drew lots of comments, 42 at last count. The most amazing comments were exemplified by the following:

I like the yearly inspections.$16 is not too much to ask to pay to ensure that my vehicle is safe when I am driving with my kids. I don't think to check the tires, and certainly don't check my brakes. I'd probablly (sic) never notice I have a bulb out if my dash blinker didn't blink faster than normal to alert me.
Keep the inspections annual and keep our kids safer.

That comment demonstrates clearly the impact of the nanny state on the ability of citizens to think clearly and assume responsibility for their own lives.

What was it the state was providing that he could not do for himself? Remember to put "inspect the car" on his calendar? Find a service shop to conduct a safety check?

Related is a story Publius sent to me on politicians attempting to impose rating standards for video games. As a child I had neighbors who were devout Irish Catholics. On their pantry door they faithfully posted the movie ratings from the "Legion of Decency". My friends from that household would not be attending any movie listed as immoral on that rating chart. The point though was that the system was voluntary. My neighbors accepted it because the Legion of Decency standard were their standard. They read the advice and made the decisions. The children saw only acceptable movies, because the parents were in control. My parents were not Catholic, and didn't subscribe to that set of standards, but my choices were still go to see movies my friends could attend, go alone (and be disloyal to them and get ratted out to their parents), or find different friends. No government was involved. I was free to choose, but not free of consequences.

The same applies to video game rating systems. There are many. Parents can adhere to the standards of their choice, or none at all. They may choose or not, but their choices will not be free of consequences. This is the essence of the moral choice which defines free men. Obama, Edwards, Romney and Richardson provide their answers. Take a moment to reflect on how their answers illuminate their inner thoughts on the Nanny state. Read More. . . .