Phrase Of The Day: Libertarian Paternalism

"The most important social goals are often best achieved not through mandates and bans but with gentle nudges."  That is the basic theory behind Libertarian Paternalism (google it), as explained by the authors of "Nudge: Improving Decisions About Health, Wealth, and Happiness" (which I have not read).

Dear Abby:

I don't usually read your column; but there wasn't much news this past week, and I was bored on Sunday.  I read the letter from a woman in line at the grocery store.  Apparently, she got in line and was waiting for her husband to bring the cart.  Another man arrived just after the woman, so the husband couldn't join his wife in line.  The woman was upset that her husband wouldn't insist on moving ahead of the other man.  You responded that she could have insisted, and spared her husband the embarrassment.  Are you both crazy?