[red rocket]

During an interview with the BBC, Mr Blair tried to give the impression of business as usual by unveiling plans for the state to target "problem children" before they are born.

"If we are not prepared to predict and intervene far more early, then there are children that are going to grow up in families that we know

perfectly well are completely dysfunctional and the kids, a few years down the line, are going to be a menace to society and actually a threat to themselves," he said. Teenage mothers and problem families could be forced to take help to head off difficulties, he said. The Government had to intervene much earlier to prevent problems developing when children were older.

There could be sanctions for parents who refused to take advice to prevent children becoming a "menace to society". Action could even be taken "pre-birth" if necessary and defended the need for state intervention.

He told the BBC: "If you've got someone who is a teenage mum, not married, not in a stable relationship, 'Here is the support we are prepared to offer you, but we do need to keep a careful watch on you and how your situation is developing because all the indicators are that your type of situation can lead to problems in the future'."

The Downing Street briefing is unlikely to repair the damage caused by Mr Blair's warning that he would offer no resignation signals. "I think I have said enough for anyone reasonable to know I will do my best for the country and the party to make sure that when I depart it is done in a stable and sensible and orderly way, but in the meantime, to get on with the job of Prime Minister," he said in an interview with The Times.

"If what they are really worried about is timing, I think most of you can look at what I have said and draw conclusions about that."

He said many pressing for his departure wanted to turn the Labour Party back into "something more fundamentalist." Such a strategy would leave the party in a position where "it simply can't win an election", he said.

"Those who say you are just going on and on, I've done what no other prime minister has ever done in a similar situation. I've said I won't fight another election. I've also said, on the record, that I will give ample time to my successor."

During the Times interview, Mr Blair drank from a mug with the name Anthony on it, and bearing a poem:

Anthony, your refined inner voice drives your thoughts and deeds.

You're a man who's in charge, others follow your lead.

You possess great depth and have a passionate mind.

Others think you're influential ethical and kind.

Telegraph article.

What the hell is wrong with the bastard?

Declaring that the unborn children of unmarried single mothers and "dysfunctional" families are going to be trouble later on and the state should intervene in advance goes so far beyond "nanny state," it's bordering closely on class warfare. Reminds me of what the Australian government used to do with the Aborigine children, take them away from their own parents and bring them up white. Nice.

What's next, sterilising people who live on council estates???

Deranged idiot.

[Naplander]

lol

[Millennium]

Am I the only one who thinks this sounds uncomfortably like parental licensing?

[Doofy]

Originally Posted by red rocket

What the hell is wrong with the bastard?

He's a leftie. That's what's wrong with him. Every leftie politician will start to display similar tendencies once they feel their position is strong enough. Nature of the beast.

[Big Mac]

WTF, I thought the left loves teenage mothers.

[goMac]

Originally Posted by Doofy

He's a leftie. That's what's wrong with him. Every leftie politician will start to display similar tendencies once they feel their position is strong enough. Nature of the beast.

Ummmmm... The things he is talking about certainly aren't liberal. I don't know what Liberals you have over in the UK, but he sounds like a conservative to me.

Liberals here usually advocate the rehabilitation of most criminals. Killing them before they are born wouldn't exactly fit with Liberal policy.

Nice to see you blame the liberals though.

[Doofy]

Originally Posted by goMac

Ummmmm... The things he is talking about certainly aren't liberal. I don't know what Liberals you have over in the UK, but he sounds like a conservative to me.

Here's clause 4 of his party's constitution:

The Labour Party is a democratic socialist party. It believes that by the strength of our common endeavour we achieve more than we achieve alone, so as to create for each of us the means to realise our true potential and for all of us a community in which power, wealth and opportunity are in the hands of the many, not the few. Where the rights we enjoy reflect the duties we owe. And where we live together, freely, in a spirit of solidarity, tolerance and respect.

And what you've displayed here is a common failing amongst leftie supporters - you don't know the true nature of what it is you support. Once in power, every leftie politician will display the same tendencies... ...because, quite simply, it's impossible to the achieve the main socialist goals in the real world without resorting to such social engineering measures.

[Kr0nos]

Originally Posted by Millennium

Am I the only one who thinks this sounds uncomfortably like parental licensing?

No, as a mtter of fact this is exactly what we are headed for…

Next in line, eugenics.

[Jawbone54]

Originally Posted by goMac

Ummmmm... The things he is talking about certainly aren't liberal. I don't know what Liberals you have over in the UK, but he sounds like a conservative to me.

Liberals here usually advocate the rehabilitation of most criminals. Killing them before they are born wouldn't exactly fit with Liberal policy.

Nice to see you blame the liberals though.

This is akin to someone from England saying, "Hey, Pat Buchanan sounds like a liberal to me," just because he says some crazy things every once in a while.

If you don't know the Labour Party's history, then "shhhhhhhhh."

[goMac]

Originally Posted by Doofy

And what you've displayed here is a common failing amongst leftie supporters - you don't know the true nature of what it is you support. Once in power, every leftie politician will display the same tendencies... ...because, quite simply, it's impossible to the achieve the main socialist goals in the real world without resorting to such social engineering measures.

Heh, no, Blair may call himself a leftie but he's not. He's frequently a target of Liberal ridicule here, and has been ever since he became Bush's best friend.

Nope, Liberals here are pretty anti-Blair. But again, thanks for blaming the Liberals.

(Also what he's supporting has nothing to do with Pro-Choice.)

[goMac]

Originally Posted by Jawbone54

This is akin to someone from England saying, "Hey, Pat Buchanan sounds like a liberal to me," just because he says some crazy things every once in a while.

If you don't know the Labour Party's history, then "shhhhhhhhh."

Right, this might be a disconnect between UK liberals and US liberals. Something like this would never fly in the US liberal party, and like I pointed out above, Blair doesn't have very many liberal friends in the US.

Might be something to keep in mind for Doofy when he talks about US liberals.

[Doofy]

Originally Posted by goMac

Heh, no, Blair may call himself a leftie but he's not. He's frequently a target of Liberal ridicule here, and has been ever since he became Bush's best friend.

Nope, Liberals here are pretty anti-Blair. But again, thanks for blaming the Liberals.

I assure you, Blair is what always happens when lefties gain too much power. And if Blair's not a leftie, as you maintain, how come he's implemented enormous amounts of leftie policies in the last nine years?

Heck, the very story that this thread is on about is actually about wealth distribution.

Originally Posted by goMac

Might be something to keep in mind for Doofy when he talks about US liberals.

I'm well aware of the political spectrum on both sides of the pond, thanks.

[turtle777]

Originally Posted by Doofy

He's a leftie.

For some reason, that is something I'd expect from a rightie.

-t

[Doofy]

Originally Posted by what_the_heck

For some reason, that is something I'd expect from a rightie.

Strange that a centrist libertarian should say it then.

[Spliffdaddy]

ouch. good one.