Which is better, the carrot or the stick?
Actually, both have their uses, but in human society it is generally found that in most cases offering an incentive (the carrot) works better and is kinder.
That's the Conservative way, by and large, as is of course very well known. There will always be exceptions, such as how to deal with crime that has already happened, but most desirable behaviour for living within a society will be far better being encouraged rather than enforced. This is only because of the needs of others in one's society: a hermit living alone in the middle of nowhere need not be so concerned about all this...
The so-called Nanny State that we have in Britain today tends to try to do it the other way around, with endless rules, laws and regulations in a perpetual stream of legislation pouring out of Whitehall. We saw this during the Blair years, and there is no sign of any slow-down under Gordon Brown's premiership. Indeed, the large number of 'policy reviews' that the present Prime Minister has initiated in his few months in office will inevitably lead to a torrent of new legislation.
Earlier this week I was at a briefing session that tried to explain upcoming changes in how local government works, as far as local Councillors will be affected, when it comes into effect next year. Even before that, though, a further White paper on the same subject is already being prepared, and is expected to be published later this year. It just never stops...
Far, far better would be just to set a very basic and simple framework and let us get on with it, as only those on the spot can know how best to deal with their local situation and needs. This top-down one size fits all approach of heavyweight ruling from on high is not a good way to go.
I do hope that after the next General Election (which is looking increasingly likely to result in a Conservative overall majority in the House of Commons) the incoming Government will produce a much leaner and less prescriptive framework for local government in their first review of the subject (whenever that might be) and then just leave us alone to get on with our jobs.
That would be the carrot of incentive, rather than the stick of regulation, and is almost certain to work much, much better!
