tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2498398785015106016.post4534531854962711230..comments2023-10-18T00:03:31.222+10:00Comments on Stafford Ray: “Crying Wolf" in the Nanny State.Stafford Rayhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03048757515249725540noreply@blogger.comBlogger1125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2498398785015106016.post-17912707386803920062010-03-08T03:22:00.017+10:002010-03-08T03:22:00.017+10:00Happily, survival of all hands and boat without cu...Happily, survival of all hands and boat without cutting a caper is now confirmed as the Pacific Ocean tsunami alerts have expired and your post emergency blog post has appeared here. Thank you captain for writing so well and with humor about the story of that day.<br /><br />The timely tie in and comparison of Nanny State vs. Wallopers in your post seems to highlight an unfortunate lack of desirable individual responsibility in some citizens that have not learned how to socialize appropriately with little or no alcohol and brings to mind a similar local situation. In a middle sized city with a large university, one half hour fast car drive south on the only highway going that direction, there is transition and conflict in the central business district (CBD). It is transforming from lightly used daylight hours only stores and services to becoming a hybrid mix including high density offices and housing with restaurants, bars, and clubs heavily used at night. The city government politicians and the business owners in the CBD are quite pleased with their increasingly ‘viable downtown’. in a city and regional planning (CRP) context the introduction of high density and mixed land uses is generally agreeable. With further digression exceptions could be named.<br /><br />The conflict is literally on the streets -- and curbs, gutters, and sidewalks. Formerly, before anyone really noticed, the tree leaves, candy wrapper liter, chewing gum, and odd ice cream cone droppings were easily cleaned up by tax payer supported city services -- The ‘Nanny State’, if you will. Now, just a very short time after night hours businesses close, more and more bright sunny mornings greet commuters, business owners, and employees that are dodging broken or spilled alcohol and food related trash with the air stinking of human filth as their stores and offices are opened for the day. Before opening some locations may need to hose off the building front and sidewalk. The city services that clean the sidewalks and streets seem to be overwhelmed by the amount and type of trash that accumulates late into the night hours.<br /><br />The ‘Wallopers’, in this case might be specific and substantial additional taxes or fees, separately assessed on the night hours restaurants, bars, and clubs, to pay for more city services related to the sidewalk and street cleaning required because of their customer’s inappropriate actions. And nothing has been said here about increased ‘services’ related to more general law enforcement, human safety, and life threatening emergencies that may accrue also from the general population.<br /><br />It may not be exactly as you meant (We are not talking about manmade climate change, a politician's hoax, or cap & tax here.), but I am expressing this qualified agreement by also tending to go for number three in this situation. “… it’s time to bring … the ‘Wallopers’ [exactly upon the costly consequences of inappropriately socializing by abusing alcohol].”<br /><br />!!QwkDrwhttp://www.givemeamomentblog.blogspot.comnoreply@blogger.com