Rather Too Paternal

Anurag Wadehra does a retrospective dissection of "Libertarian Paternalism":

The slippery concept they introduce is called "choice architecture" - which begs the question who controls the "architecture". The authors believe government should improve upon choices they offer, without questioning whether these should even be in government's hands in the first place.

Always reflect
before you select
an architect.

Especially one who will judge
when you are in need of a nudge
to do what's correct.

Wadehra observes:

By the year end, we have come far from the civil, nudging debate of the summer. Now, the government is moving aggressively to control the financial industry, bail out the auto industry and inject massive fiscal and monetary stimuli in the economy. Sadly, it is evident that the paper-thin concept of nudge is no defense against the do-gooders who are out to do good with a shove.

I dislike "brotherly love"
that arrives by way of a shove.