politics & policy
Downgrading parents
James Mildred
According to the Christian worldview, families are the bedrock of a strong society.
They are God’s design and intended to be an environment in which children are nurtured. In this worldview, parents are chiefly responsible before God for educating their children. Parents are commanded to bring their children up in the fear of the Lord, which is a weighty responsibility.
politics & policy
Assisted suicide
James Mildred
On 11 September, 2015 I was in the office of CARE’s chief executive, Nola Leach.
Along with colleagues we were praying together as MPs debated the Rob Marris Assisted Dying Bill (No. 2). On that occasion, MPs overwhelmingly rejected the Bill, by 330 votes to 118. Many cited concerns about patient safety and pressure being put on the most vulnerable. That day was a great victory. But advocates of assisted suicide being legalised in the UK are not giving up. Having failed so far in Parliament, they have been attempting to advance their agenda through the courts, while all the time seeking to change MPs’ minds and shift public opinion.
politics & policy
Watch and pray
James Mildred
If you have any love for politics, recent months have served up treat after treat.
First, there’s the ongoing saga of the never-ending vote. The Prime Minister has a deal on the table, but is struggling to win the support she needs. By the time this is published, there may well have been a vote on the deal which may well have been lost, leading, maybe, to another vote. Honestly, who knows what is going on at Westminster? Second, we are increasingly in unchartered constitutional territory. All the talk of a second referendum, the People’s Vote and the Speaker’s re-interpreting of long-standing House of Commons’ precedents all point to the same conclusion: it’s all a bit messy.
Beware the ‘optimism bias’ over assisted suicide
If you have ever done a driver’s awareness course (yes, this is autobiographical), there is a section where the instructor will ask you to grade yourself out of ten as a driver. Most people will select 7-9 as their self-assessment. Which is ironic given the course you are doing.
The instructor might then explain that science tells us there are three biases going on. Firstly, there is the optimism bias: we assume we will be fine and will never be involved in a serious prang or crash. Secondly, the what-about bias: we look back on times where we’ve overtaken on a bend and because it all worked out, we assume it will be fine again. Finally, there is the skill enhancement bias: we think we’re better drivers than we are.