| Author | Message | ||
     Ferris_von_bueller |
From Great Britain Health and safety inspectors are to be given unprecedented access to family homes to ensure that parents are protecting their children from household accidents. New guidance drawn up at the request of the Department of Health urges councils and other public sector bodies to “collect data” on properties where children are thought to be at “greatest risk of unintentional injury”. Council staff will then be tasked with overseeing the installation of safety devices in homes, including smoke alarms, stair gates, hot water temperature restrictors, oven guards and window and door locks. The draft guidance by a committee at the National Institute for Health and Clinical Excellence (Nice) has been criticised as intrusive and further evidence of the “creeping nanny state”. Until now, councils have made only a limited number of home inspections to check on building work and in extreme cases where the state of a house is thought to pose a serious risk to public health. Nice also recommends the creation of a new government database to allow GPs, midwives and other officials who visit homes to log health and safety concerns they spot. The guidance aims to “encourage all practitioners who visit families and carers with children and young people aged under 15 to provide home safety advice and, where necessary, conduct a home risk assessment”. It continues: “If possible, they should supply and install home safety equipment.” The proposals have been put out to consultation and, if approved, will be implemented next year. Matthew Elliott, of the TaxPayers’ Alliance, said: “It is a huge intervention into family life which will be counter-productive. “Good parents will feel the intrusion of the state in their homes and bad parents will now have someone else to blame if they don’t bring up their children in a sensible, safe environment.” About 100,000 children are admitted to hospital each year for home injuries at a cost of £146m. http://www.timesonline.co.uk/tol/news/uk/article69 17328.ece | ||
| Ft_bstrd |
Get ready for lots and lots of Nerf.  | ||
| Roadcouch98 |
...but Free A.D.D. meds and Koolaid (Message edited by roadcouch98 on November 16, 2009) | ||
| Aeholton |
Guess I can quit holding out hope for the return of lawn darts. | ||
| P47b |
Lawn Darts are still being sold in Great Britain. http://www.crown-darts.com/content/products.asp Need replacement parts? http://www.lawndartparts.com/ | ||
| Sknight |
"You'll put your eye out kid!" | ||
| Cityxslicker |
so if you dont have any kids are you exempt from these little government visits? I really, really, really hate where that leads to. You know some damn nanny state liberal is going to see that and think that it is a good idea for the US. Heavens there might actually be minibikes in garages that have kids under 12 near. | ||
| Cityxslicker |
so if you dont have any kids are you exempt from these little government visits? I really, really, really hate where that leads to. You know some damn nanny state liberal is going to see that and think that it is a good idea for the US. Heavens there might actually be minibikes in garages that have kids under 12 near. | ||
| Ducbsa |
Aren't there reports that some US gov't program has doctors asking kids if there are guns in your house? Might be just a 'story'. | ||
| Xodot |
"creeping nanny state" is a great description of what has happened here in Canada. It started with limiting the number of hours in a work week by those socialist unions and the creation of workplace health and safety regulations choking the profit out of shareholders wallets. Then fearing people might not be able to pay for doctors and hospitals and lawyers, they removed our right to sue in case of a motor vehicle collision and instituted the right to lawyer if you are charged with a criminal offense and paid all medical with tax dollars - choking money from the wallets of the average Joe. Then the socialists moved onto the roads legislating seat belt use and helmets! forcing the average Joe to be safer. Now inspectors want to be able to come into a home and force parents to spend money to safeguard children?? Another cash grab removing disposable income and oppressing the poor. Clearly the unions were the thin edge of the socialist wedge. | ||
| Liquorwhere |
"creeping nanny state" is a great description of what has happened here in Canada. It started with limiting the number of hours in a work week by those socialist unions and the creation of workplace health and safety regulations choking the profit out of shareholders wallets. Then fearing people might not be able to pay for doctors and hospitals and lawyers, they removed our right to sue in case of a motor vehicle collision and instituted the right to lawyer if you are charged with a criminal offense and paid all medical with tax dollars - choking money from the wallets of the average Joe. Then the socialists moved onto the roads legislating seat belt use and helmets! forcing the average Joe to be safer. Now inspectors want to be able to come into a home and force parents to spend money to safeguard children?? Another cash grab removing disposable income and oppressing the poor. Clearly the unions were the thin edge of the socialist wedge. Just one more set of reasons not to live in Canada as far as I can see...I get your sarcasm, but none of what you wrote above I would want. NONE. so there ya go. | ||
| Swordsman |
Y'know, I started a drawn out response for ya xodot, but ultimately decided it isn't worth the effort. If you'd welcome some government ••••••• walking into your living room and telling you what you are and aren't going to do with your child, so be it. If they decide you need to spend $2000 on pink foam padding for your tables and a seatbelt for your couch, I expect all smiles and praise from ya, k? and don't try to tell me they'd never come up with anything so stupid... you ought to see some of the ridiculous counter-productive "safety measures" OSHA has installed here at work) ~SM | ||
| Cataract2 |
Tell me about it Sword. | ||
| Joebuell |
+2 sword. I'd love to hear the "logic" that make government inspectors in your home a good thing. | ||
| Chellem |
I almost wasn't sure it was sarcasm. I rather agree with it. Huh. A little too dry for me I guess. :P Why wouldn't I want to sue someone if they run into my car? I'm a little confused about that part. We already have the right to a lawyer, so that also didn't make any sense. They REALLY want to piss off people, they'll FORCE EVERYONE to use the public defenders. Everyone's equal, right? Some people WANT to work more hours, ya know, to better themselves. I work my ass off, because my work is important to me. I don't need anyone to speak on my behalf. And until we have baby factories a-la Brave New World, I'll take charge of my own kids' safety, thank you. If I need a nanny, I'll hire one. Or maybe I'm entitled to one? Because I'm really tired, and I think I deserve one...in the best interest of my health, of course. Doesn't my medical cover that? Crappy health care. *sigh* Whatever I guess. To each his own. | ||
| Xodot |
Just because I relate the way it is where I live does not mean I either agree with it or want it. It means simply that I have it effecting my life. History can help us prevent future losses. I would ask "Where do you draw the line in government intervention?" We have constitutions underpinning the laws of our countries yet there are people pushing the limits and changing the intent of those founding and God inspired documents. That has resulting in creeping socialism in many democracies. To me, socialism = bondage of a nation. A good discussion involves people who will draw the line in different places - otherwise we all think the same and are boring. | ||
| Aesquire |
I usually rail against more socialism, but it's not like we don't want govt. programs to help people. I think Xodot has it correct. I like nice roads, support for education loans & grants, law enforcement, ( different argument on what laws ) Defense dept. etc., a bunch of other stuff. I'm willing to be taxed on that. I accept I'm going to be taxed on stuff I find silly or useless. Welfare programs, are a more complex topic. Charity is freely given, taxes are coerced, and the transfer of your wealth to another by govt. decree is problematic. I don't know where to draw that line. That's a different argument as well, perhaps. But. it is obvious from history, ( which, if you noticed, is going on now ) that a program, like socialized medicine, invites total control over the individual by a larger & larger and more and more intrusive govt. On the one hand, the price of services provided under govt. subsidy, always goes up. Businesses have to raise rates to make up for arbitrary pay schemes, ( see college costs, medicine ) and the govt. supports the higher prices until you run out of money, or the service gets rationed, or in the case of socialized medicine, both. The other hand, is that in order to reduce costs, life must be made more restrictive to limit risks. At least that is one concept, and there are a whole bunch of people who just hate to see anyone have fun. You know some people love the idea of controlling others, "for their own good". This as you see above can get right out of hand. | ||
| Swordsman |
Um... did I somehow sound for the idea...? back to Writing class for me! ~SM | ||
| Cityxslicker |
That gun question has been on public health care forms in washington for at least five years. When I saw it, I told the clerk that she could take her additional form, and file next to the copy of the constitution that she most assuredly threw away. Its none of HealthCares G-D business how many guns I have at my house, nor the amount of ammo, nor the reloads, nor my belief in the Second Amendment, Shut your Hippocratic Oath up and give me my damn splint. Over zealous nanny morons. The form is brought to you by DSHS; It would take a class action suit to get it removed. | ||
| Xodot |
...some people love the idea of controlling others, "for their own good". Now we are getting somewhere! Only a noticeable grassroots response to policy that is "silly" and invasive will stop creeping socialism. Often the cry used to invoke their will on the community will be "Think about the children!" Tugging at motherhood issues to protect the vulnerable in our society is difficult to see for what it is and is difficult to get support to speak out against. A clear, well articulated and respectful declaration of your position will grab attention of the thinkers. However if to achieve results you find you need the votes of the great mass whose opinion can be swayed, then you need a catchy 5 second blurb in the mass media. There are a lot of lobbyists making a lot of money to sway public policy. WHO is paying the lobbyists? Someone with a LOT to gain from the proposed new policy. That is a lot of power for you and I to speak up against. Politicians need to hear our objections clearly and then be accountable for their votes on those laws. You and I need to stay informed on proposed changes in the "silly' arena. forms are great for that. For example, I had never heard of the medical/gun survey Cityxslicker refers to. | ||
| Cityxslicker |
DSHS is a state run agency here in Washington, but I am betting many states have a similar agency. I worked in healthcare and insurance for 15 years, and I NEVER saw it. I went to the free clinic, because my doctor was 'donating' time and had to fill out the form there. Apparently it is tied directly to public health administration. I dont know what they do with the statistics, but it is scary concept to me that they were even collecting the data. The form also asked how often do you drink, do you use illicit drugs, do you smoke, have you ever been convicted of domestic violence, have the police been to your house in the last six months, how much is your rent, how much are you prescriptions, how many kids in your house, are they enrolled in Early Start HCAP the other side of the sheet was same thing all in SPANISH. It also asked for my social security number. I was told that I wouldnt get care without filling it out. I told the clerk that I would have her office shut down by the end of the month for failing HIPAA cert and privacy act requirements. And assessed with a 5k fine for every instance of infraction. She shut up real quick. Left hand not knowing what the right hand is up to. |
