In his latest column, Dennis Clayson tells us how the "nanny state" of socialism is going to corrupt us all.

The fact is "nanny state" is a pejorative label with no substance supporting it. Clayson seems to think that we're all as free as those who ventured into the frontier 200 years ago. But, the pioneers were independent only because they were alone. And, as soon as there were others around, they bound themselves into a society and established a government.

The ultimate example is that development was when the Pilgrims arrived off Massachusetts in the Mayflower. Before anyone set a foot ashore they signed the Mayflower Compact to "covenant and combine ourselves together into a civil Body Politick."

Unlike Clayson's claim that we're all better off standing alone, our history demonstrates conclusively that in the real world people know they are better off if they combine together for mutual interests. Humans aren't loners as Clayson urges. We are social beings. The recognition of that fact is best stated by John Dunne in his "Meditation XVII" that says:

"No man is an island, entire of itself; every man is a piece of the continent, a part of the main. If a clod be washed away by the sea, Europe is the less, as well as if promontory were, as well as if a manor of thy friend's or of thine own were. Any man's death diminishes me, because I am involved in mankind; and therefore never send to know for whom the bell tolls; it tolls for thee."

Already, we live in a society where our government has ensured that important services are collectively available. Today, if Clayson truly wants to stand alone then he must sleep in a house without electricity, gas, and phone. He may not venture out on the roads built for our common use. He must reject the common defense. He must eschew all inspection of our food and facilities to make sure they are safe. He must assume no one will care for him when he is old or disabled.

The acknowledgement that we live in an interdependent society was proved by the recent agreement to bailout the financial-service industry to the tune of $750 billion. It's all tax money and the agreement to spend that much money amounts to the middle class and lower class providing aid needed by the upper class because it was in big trouble. It amounts to a direct cash transfer to a limited portion of the people of our society. It is precariously close to "providing to each according to the need." But few see it as socialism but just what's due between different sectors of our society.

The term "nanny state" is balderdash. Calling our government a "firefighter state" is more accurate. Here's why. Clayson may become a hermit in his house. However, if his house starts to burn down, society will send firefighters to put out the fire and to make sure he is all right. And the firefighters will come even if he protests that he'd rather put out the fire himself. In that, the society that sent the firefighters is smarter than him.

Clayson and others of his political persuasion want to limit our firefighters to providing services and services for the rich. We need to get used to knowing that our firefighters will come to the aid of the middle and lower classes as well.

The division between what we do individually and what we do in common has always been malleable. With Barack Obama elected, it appears that we are about to readjust that division again. We've found health care doesn't work real well when we're on our own to figure out how to pay for it. So, we're going to work out a system where no one goes without good health care and we somehow pay for in common. It is but a minor change in a 225-year long trail of adjustments between the private and the common. Clayson needs to get used to it.