Many politicians believe they know how to run our lives better than we do. They think that they are better able to spend our money than we are. They think it is their duty to decide who may marry. They believe it is their duty to ban us from doing things we enjoy but which may be harmful to us. They feel justified in stopping us buying alcohol after 11pm or gambling. And they heavily tax anything they disapprove of.

On Samizdata.net I recently wrote: "Is it just me, or are taxes which attempt to change my preferences the most offensive? I really don't see why the state has any legitimacy in encouraging me to switch from gin to, say, orange juice. Should the tax system not try and be as neutral as possible, avoiding attempts to change my behaviour? Or are politicians really just better people than me, more competent in deciding my choices than I am? The government certainly appears to believe it is justified in subordinating my choices to its wisdom. Yet when I think about the nannies, two words come to mind: sod 'em."

So I'm pleased to see a new blog called Nanny Knows Best, which pokes fun at the nanny state. It describes itself as a "site dedicated to exposing, and resisting, the all pervasive nanny state that is corroding the way of life and the freedom of the people of Britain." Check it out.