"The state changes the condition of people's minds. That is the way it tends to do the greatest damage". Doctor Dalrymple himself would be proud. This is indeed the overall pernicious effect of the state trough. Any formalised, automated, systematic, bureaucratised assistance leads to, given enough time, to immense damage to society's moral fabric. This is not really in question anymore I feel. What is in question is wheher society has buckled to the extent that it can undergo a natural recovery, or whether it has been bent out of shape beyond anyone's control. I can only take hope with the Welfare reform in the US. On that basis we should press on ahead without fear. Will David Cameron prove to be something other than negligible and begin what must begin?

Posted by cybn at January 25, 2010 03:14 PM

Cybn -

No. You'd need someone with backbone to do that. At this time, no obvious candidates. Don't think there will be until the issue becomes unavoidable owing to social meltdown. Then it'll be too late.

Posted by Merlin at January 25, 2010 08:05 PM

Iain Duncan Smith now seems to be the man with a backbone. But while he presses on ahead, we have Ken Clarke going in the opposite direction on crime of course.

Posted by cybn at August 4, 2010 07:00 PM