Hacker Newsnew | past | comments | ask | show | jobs | submitlogin

Have you envisioned in detail what a government that "isn't our nanny" would look like? Have you visualized the consequences of a transition to such a government?

Personally, while I agree governments screw a lot of things up, I have to recognize they have many advantages. Private property for instance often needs a strong government to be properly enforced.



While the idea of "strong government" has many vague interpretations, one doesn't need a nanny state to enforce property rights.

This is a good starting point for looking at what Benelux countries do: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Legality_of_euthanasia


As a citizen of the Netherlands I can tell you that the country is as neo-liberal[1] as they come, and yet, we have universal healthcare, gay marriage, euthanasia, and abortion.

(Also, racism is rampant, culture and education spending continue to be cut, the housing market has been in a slump since 2009, and taxes are on the rise – but I digress.)

[1] http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Neo-liberal




Consider applying for YC's Fall 2026 batch! Applications are open till July 27.

Guidelines | FAQ | Lists | API | Security | Legal | Apply to YC | Contact

Search: