We want a nanny but she must be free

The BBC ran a poll to coincide with the 60th anniversary of the national health service and a few of the statistics jumped out at me:

82 per cent of those questioned thought the government should do more to wean people off drugs

69 per cent wanted the government to do more to reduce alcohol consumption and to promote healthy eating

67 per cent wanted the government to do more to reduce smoking

65 per cent wanted the government to do more to help people lose weight.

I wonder what percentage of those people would also vote for the government increasing taxes to pay for these things?

It seems that society increasingly demands the government solves its problems but doesn't want to pay the bill and certainly doesn't want to take responsibility for things that are largely in their own hands.

Of those options listed, probably only drugs needs medical intervention in most cases. There is enough information out there to help those who want to eat more healthily, lose weight or quit smoking, but people don't seem ready to find it.

We are told every day in the newspapers that everyone is up in arms at the rising cost of petrol and wants the government to do something about it. That really means they want the tax to be cut so they can buy their petrol cheaper.

Yet part of the solution is in their own hands: don't take unnecessary journeys in the car and when you are driving, cut your speed.

I recently drove on a motorway, keeping my speed between 50-60mph. It increased my journey time by only a few minutes and cut my fuel consumption by a surprising amount. Yet I was being passed constantly by drivers, many going well over the speed limit, who were no doubt complaining about the increased cost of petrol.

Perhaps it is time to stop asking the government to pay out for things that we can do ourselves. Or if we are not willing to do that, at least stop moaning about having to pick up the tab in the form of taxes.