The Way I See It - The Nanny-boy State

The Way I See It
By Doug Dickerson
Staff Writer
January 17, 2007

The Nanny-boy state

Those who would give up essential liberty to purchase a little temporary safety deserve neither liberty nor safety.
-Benjamin Franklin

I attended Governor Sanford’s Inauguration last week and listened with much appreciation to some of the remarks he made. One of the big issues of his second term will be that of restructuring state government. Restructuring state government will be a monumental task but one that is long overdue and necessary.

In order to see these much needed changes take place, he will have to overcome what I affectionately refer to now as the Nanny-boy state. I define the Nanny-boy state as something of a cross between government-nanny types trying to meddle in our everyday lives coupled with the good ole boy system of governing – thus we have a Nanny-boy state of government.

Allow me to illustrate.
There are laws on the books in South Carolina that are simply archaic and need a proper burial. Here are a few examples:
Musical instruments may not be sold on Sunday
A permit must be obtained to fire a missile
Horses may not be kept in bathtubs
Fortune tellers are required to obtain a special permit from the state
Every adult male must bring a rifle to church on Sunday in order to ward off Indian attacks
It is a capital offense to inadvertently kill someone while attempting suicide
It is perfectly legal to beat your wife on the courthouse steps on Sunday
Railroad companies may be held liable in some instances for scaring horses

As archaic and silly as these laws may be, the way in which government continues to intrude upon our personal liberties on a daily basis is equally disturbing to me. I am sure you have read about the smoking law ordinance in Charleston that just received approval in its first reading.

I am not a smoker. I quit smoking in my early teen years after burning part of the field down out behind our house. In as much as I appreciate smoking bans in public places for the health and safety of all persons, one has got to be concerned when the government arbitrarily intervenes on behalf of “public safety” and takes away the rights of private property owners by forcing them to ban smoking in their establishments. Any decision made to ban smoking or not to in a privately owned establishment ought to be made by the private property owner, not the Nanny-boy state.

Government is making criminals out of restaurant and bar owners and their patrons over a legal substance, regulated by the government. When this liberty is taken away, which liberty will be next to go and when does it stop? While the Nanny-boy state is busy making criminals out of smokers, the streets are riddled with bullets, drugs, gangs, and thugs — the real criminal element surely must delight that the focus is off of them.

Governor Sanford in his speech, wisely said, “The answer to many of South Carolina’s challenges lies not in more government, but in more freedom for each South Carolinian.”

Government has a proper role and function in the state. Our Founders believed its role and function should be limited. James Madison said, “I believe there are more instances of the abridgement of the freedom of the people by gradual and silent encroachments of those in power than by violent and sudden usurpations.”

I wish Governor Sanford all the best as he endeavors to “preserve, protect and defend the Constitution of the United States,” because the Nanny-boys will not go out without a fight.

©Summerville Journal-Scene 2007