Banned wagon
A weekly survey of the things our rulers want to prohibit
THE role of the state, through the eyes of a new breed of liberal-left politician, is to free the individual from every conceivable responsibility, even deep within the home. Thirty years ago, when a child pestered his parents for yet another toy he would be given a sharp 'no', together with a little lecture on how in the old days children didn't even have shoes, let alone Action Man helicopters with flashing lights and revolving blades.
But why should a parent be expected to have to go through this little routine when it is clearly the consumer society's fault for instilling greed in the child? Debra Shipley, Labour MP for Stourbridge, has launched a campaign to right this terrible injustice. Along with 92 other Members of Parliament she has tabled a motion to ban television advertising 'during broadcasting hours scheduled for under-fives' viewing'. If she has her way, you will be able to dump little Johnny in front of ITV's daytime schedule without any fear that he will terrorise you into buying him a Buzz Lightyear doll or taking him for a double milkshake at McDonald's.
The underlying philosophy is that — while it should not be banned outright — commercial activity is a dangerous and demeaning thing which should only be practised by consenting adults in private. When the children are safely tucked up in bed, grown-ups should be allowed to draw the curtains, sit down and watch a plug for the latest washing powder; but to broadcast the virtues of Jif when there are children about would compromise the poor dears' innocence.
It is a nonsense. Commercial television relies on advertisements for its very existence, and if stations cannot broadcast them during kiddies' hours, they are unlikely to put much effort into developing television for the young. Though it might hurt Ms Shipley to acknowledge it, our children are growing up in a capitalist society, and there is no reason why they should not be exposed to its ways and means while they are still in their new-generation, super-absorbent Pampers.
Ross Clark
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