Almost every post over the last few weeks has hit upon the question of what is personal responsibility? We’ve discussed politics, drinking and smoking, natural disasters, role models, and now violence in video games. They bring up questions like to what extent are voters responsible to learn of the issues and educating themselves? How should the consumption of alcohol be regulated, either it be by the federal government or the individual? We listened to Nick Naylor defend cigarettes on the basis of personal responsibility. Krissy asked the question “What is the responsibility of the individual who chooses not to leave when there are means to evacuate?” Can we blame athletes for being bad role models for kids? And to what extent does violence affect children’s disposition? Most issues can be simplified by focusing on the question of what is personal responsibility? How much should individuals be responsible for rather than placing blame on others?
I’d say that personal responsibility is how this guy defines an adult, “adults take responsibility for themselves.” However, we all know that not all “adults” really take responsibility for what they do. That’s one of the reason we have so many silly complicated laws that need to cover every possible base, because we can’t rely on people taking personal responsibility, we all try and hoist it onto someone else. Personal responsibility requires us to own up to everything we do. To take one example from above, athletes being bad role models for children isn’t necessarily the athletes fault, look at the child himself, the parents, and society for placing athletes on such a high pedestal rather than teachers and doctors. We all read about Paul Farmer this summer, and I bet very few had heard of him before. If anyone took the AP English Composition test, one of the past essays was on the article, I think, by Christopher James “Why the World Needs Nerds,” and to me that pretty well sums up our problem with role models. A lot of issues with liability are because we can’t take personal responsibility. But, I think personal responsibility is too much to ask of someone now adays, when its easier to point a finger.
8 comments:
I agree, nobody any more takes responsibility for his or her own actions. American needs to take personal responsibility. But why should they? If the government is going to give 700 Billion to the largest companies in the world, than why should its average-sedan-driving-soccer-mom citizens pay their loans? These multi-billion dollar companies do not have to feel the painful result of their actions. This is a sad day in the United States. Who is still held accountable for their actions? The Tax Payers? The Citizens? The Federal Government? They’re easy to blame, let’s go with that! Bush was probably involved with this too! Now the United States Federal Government (Which translates into Tax Dollars) is generously helping these unfortunate CEO’s who might not be able to pay their mortgages on their mansions if we don't help them out. Welcome to America, land of the loan, home of the free money!
Excellent post. I also feel that fewer and fewer people are taking responsibility for their actions today. Responsibility seems to be a dying idea in our culture. How do you re-invent responsibility in our society? Perhaps it begins with each of us owning up to whatever failure (or success) we are involved in, saying "Yes, that wasw me," dealing with it, and moving on.
But this issue seems to me to have two sides. I would also like to point out that another problem around the world today is that few people seem to want to take responsibility to help the least of their brothers and sisters. Problems is Europe? Not for the U.S. to care about. Poverty abroad? We have more important stuff to deal with here. Genocide in Africa? We're too busy pursuing our own agenda. And when I say "we," I don't mean "our country" or "the government," two very abstract terms. I mean each and every one of US. It's high time we started viewing others as our brothers and sisters and recognizing that we do have the responsibility to improve their lives whenever and wherever we can.
Generally, I would say that lack of responsibility stems from ignorance. Much of this ignorance has become a cultural part of America's identity. For instance, people no longer feel the need to be responsible for their own money situation because they can now run up their credit cards and fall into debt. (I suppose the government plays the part of a role model here?) Anyway, people are now content with being in debt. Unfortunately, their parents never told them that debt is only fun for a while. They were ignorant to the fact that eventually; you lose your house and your car and all the other fun things you bought while you possessed negative money on your credit card. The real problem is that lack of responsibility is easy and fun and probably the best way to live, until it catches up to you and you lose your money, die of lung cancer, fall off a balcony... Parents, schools, the media, and the government need to teach these negative outcomes of lacking responsibility. If not, then why would anyone choose to be responsible?
I agree 100% with Nick and Ryan, I am sick of people not owning up to their mistakes and taking advantage of others. It is really frustrating and unfair when a reliable person has to take responsibility for a careless person’s actions. (Especially true for what Nick said about the working class having to help pay mansion-owners mortgages, I hear my parents complain about this constantly!) Yes, America is becoming lazy, mooching off of others and pointing fingers. And it is only getting worse through the generations, but what can we do to prevent it?
Carl mentioned the “silly complicated laws” that we have, this reminds me of the story about the McDonalds customer who was burned by her spilled coffee and sued McDonalds because the coffee was too hot. Instances such as this annoy me. I don’t know how many times I see those ridiculous warning labels (baby strollers that say, “remove child before folding;” scooters that say, “product moves when used;” and fishing lures that say, “harmful if swallowed.”) Maybe people should wear signs on their heads stating, “Warning: irresponsible.”
haha sarah! that's funny. and sadly it is also true. America, it seems, is letting the government take the fall for all the bad things that happen to us, the citizens. How do we get people to be responsible again. I believe ryan asked this question. but how? People only focus on one thing, it seems like. themselves. We could care less about people in Africa dying from malnutrition, or global warming, or anything that isnt happening to us. Our only problem we want to deal with is, "how can I improve MY life?"
I would agree that some people are irresponsible with their financial situation and do not admit their mistakes, but the majority of people do take responsibility for the things that they do. The average American is taking care of their mortgage payment and bills. But the minority that are unwilling to take responsibility recieve all of the attention because their affect on the rest of us.
There was more to that McDonald's lawsuit than just spilling hot coffee (the McDonalds was told that its coffee was too hot many times before, and I think the woman got some serious burns), but its a good point for other lawsuits (such as the liability with pools and dogs).
Pat: When you say that the majority of people take responsibility for things they do, are you talking specifically just the mortgage problem? Cause even if you limit it to financial things, credit card debt is rising, bankruptcy is rising. And if you want to talk about all things, how many people find a trash can to toss their lollipop wrapper?
This post makes my day. I think about this issue a lot. I see examples of the incredible lack of social responsibility in our society all over the place. I’ll even steer away from economic responsibility. Let’s look at people on an individual level.
Consider:
1. The seat belt law. Is the government my mother? Can people honestly not be trusted to take this simple measure of precaution? In light of the fact that this law does indeed exist, the sad answer is no, they cannot be trusted. I guess the law has to hold our hands to personal safety. What's next? A law about brushing our teeth?
2. Obesity. Sure, some people have hereditary issues. Yes, I understand that some people have conditions that make exercise difficult. No, I don’t think that everyone should be on fad diets to stay slim. These things are excuses. In my harsh opinion, this society is the ultimate cop out society when it comes to personal fitness. Reality check: there is no one to blame. Take control. Make the effort. Get up. Exercise. Eat reasonable portions. A friend of my family has lost 140 pounds by eating smaller portions and playing tennis 3-4 times a week. One hundred and forty pounds! Just from having a little responsibility and restraint! There is no quick fix to an unhealthy America, and we shouldn’t have to have nationwide, government-instigated movements to get fit. I simply do not understand how so many individuals can let their health slip into such terrible condition. It’s complacency and lack of responsibility.
3. Talkin bout my generation. “People try to put us down.” And so they should. We’re a wild bunch, my friends. And can you really blame the media? Not so much. No matter how much drugs, sex, and alcohol MTV flashes in our faces, it’s still each person’s choice. You can say we’re setting a bad example for the kids all you want, but when it comes down to it, it’s my (each person’s) choice whether to take a page out of Pitbull’s book or a page out of my scripture study leader’s book.
Harsh but true, amigos. No one goes through the motions except you.
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