State Dependency and Fear

EU Referendum highlights a story that illustrates two of the problems with the big State. Camden Council is planning to ask residents to shovel snow themselves this winter, although they'll provide the shovels. Some aren't happy:

Eleanor Botwright, director of Castlehaven Community Centre, said: 'It is not quite dig your own grave but it is a double-edged sword. In some instances I am sure it will be helpful but if people pay their council tax, that is supposed to be used for that.'

So we have State Dependency - I can't do it because I pay my taxes. It's now someone else's responsibility.

But the proposal is risky. Last January it was pointed out that:

Under current legislation, householders and companies open themselves up to legal action if they try to clear a public pavement outside their property. If they leave the path in a treacherous condition, they cannot be sued. 

So we have Fear. The State has made laws such that people are too scared to take responsibility for problems. Indeed, as a result of this fear the Institution of Occupational Safety and Health told its members:

“When clearing snow and ice, it is probably worth stopping at the boundaries of the property under your control.”

It's a double whammy. Some people don't feel responsible and others that do are too scared to act on that feeling.

State Employees Blackmailing Us

Now that the Government is trying to reduce the amount of our money it spends, those employed by the state are piling up to blackmail us. Today it's the turn of the probation officers:

Napo said if there were 25% probation service budget cuts this would lead to courts giving short prison sentences.

Not so subtle sub-text: "Give us your money or we'll set the criminals on you!"

They're Out to Get You

From the Guardian:

Police were criticised today for inventing intelligence to persuade civilian CCTV operators to snoop on suspected drink-drivers outside pubs. Officers in Devon were said to have regularly asked operators to watch for people who might be over the drink-drive limit by making up false information about them.

But they're the good guys!

Campaign group Liberty said the disclosure was a reminder that there was scope for CCTV cameras to be abused.

And also that you cannot and should not trust the police. They're not your friends. And they're not necessary nice people.

What Splattergate Really Tells Us

Lots of people are posting about the disturbing video from environmentalist group 10:10. Many are making the argument that it shows us a lot about the mindset of the people working for these types of organisations. But maybe there's a bigger-picture story here.

Consider for a moment just how many people were involved in the production of this video. Now consider that apparently not one of them thought it might be a bad idea. Some are suggesting that maybe it was designed to be this terrible. This smacks too much of a conspiracy theory for me.

The truth may well be that this is a fine example of group-think. No one thought to challenge the decisions being made because the group automatically reinforces the correctness of those decisions. Those outside the group are unable to influence the thinking of those inside it. Group-think happens in all groups to a greater or lesser extent. It's a good reason to be wary of the State making decisions in small groups in London that affect 60 million people.