What happen to personal responsibility?

Question

Where did it go?

Why is it is that when someone does something that negatively affects their lives, be it legally or financially, there is always someone or some organization there to say that it wasn't their fault?

It's not "her" fault that she has 5 kids and is on welfare...it's societies...we let her down...

it's not his fault that he deals crack...

It's not her fault that she breaks into peoples houses and takes what they own....

There is always an excuse.....

Where did personal responsibility go? Do you know how I can find him and get him back...or did he pack up and leave with common sense?

Answer 1

He's living with me.
Personal responsibility would mean people would have to watch what they do and say in every day life. Most people are too lazy or too egotistical to take responsibility.
Taking personal responsibility would mean having to "think" all the time. How many people you know actually "think" instead of doing and saying whatever they "want" to, and damn the consequences? So many people want to use the "I'm not responsible" phrase in every day life:
She/He made me mad. (Don't you have control over your own emotions?)
I drink or do drugs because of a bad childhood. (Many of us did. Why not use the bad experiences to learn life lessons? Aren't you an adult now? Aren't you responsible for your own present happiness? Are you going to continue to allow those past "bad experiences" to have power over your present life?)
I steal because I can't find a job. (Maybe you are setting your standards too high. Work at McDonald's, at least it's honest work. I have NEVER had trouble finding a job. But then again I was willing to WORK.)
I screw the system because everyone one else does it. (No, there are those who actually NEED help because of a dibilitating disease or circumstances beyond their control. You make it harder for those who need it, by being dishonest.)

There are those of us who have learned through maturity, that taking personal responsibility makes one happier. You don't have to worry about the consequences of stealing (you just won't do it), lying (you no longer have to keep your stories straight), becoming overly angry (so the guy pushed in front of you in line, oh well, maybe he needs to be someplace), or even what others think of you (I'm happy with myself, why should other peoples opinions matter).
When you become responsible in your own life, you tend to be happy within yourself and not worry about what "my friends or peers will think."

Answer 2

If it was harder to get a handout, people would move their behinds and stop being so lazy. Most people have already gone to school, and hated every second of it. No one would like to go back because they feel they are better than than and the government will help them anyway. Complain long enough and you will get something from it, that's how people act now. People think they're already working hard enough, but that doesn't mean they can be lazy. I think it's great that you thought about this, but then you have to take into consideration all the people who have no life savings and those who do but don't want to spend it for any reason. I know a few rich people who steal from poorer people just so they don't have to take away from themselves. They think they deserve more money. I think that the people who are truly poor and in need will be the ones who will find no other choice than going back to school. I think this is the way you will find out who is being honest about need and who is not. When you need food, you go out and buy it. If you need a job and aren't qualified for what is available or what you want, you go back to school. If you're not gonna do this, you don't need money and if you need it, you're obviously too lazy to get there. If you don't go after it, you don't need it, want is or deserve it. If you want it, get out and work hard for it. Some people are just naive and think they know better.

Answer 3

Oh does that include things like floods and fires and earthquakes, wars and tsunamis, deaths of parents when young, some drunk killing your kids, disease? Not everything that sucks in life can be assumed to be the fault of the person who must now pay, sometimes in fact, fate can deal one a very nasty hand and a helping hand can make an enormous difference. In your example, 'she had 5 kids' and that's a fault, but suppose she is recently widowed? And she keeps a neat house and cares for her kids, but she needs to go to school to get a job, is it sensible to remover her kids, or to help her with day care and school fees so she can become productive? Which will be better for her kids, and through them society in general? Committing crimes doesn't fall under that notion because yes, one can always not steal or deal. But addicts have none of the abilities to distinguish their behavior from the results. So...arrange to have them cleaned up with support, or pay for them to go to jail? I am assuming you don't want to leave them on the streets. Judging the proper reasons for needing help is something that will never be perfect, but you can't throw all aid out or our grandparents may find themselves homeless on the streets at 90 having outlived their savings, and the mentally incompetent would be wandering aimlessly and never understanding why.

Answer 4

I don't know how old you are.....but you sound like a very wise lady with a good head on her shoulders. Maybe YOU should run for president! I'm not kidding. Someone needs to say...enough is enough! I think it started when Dr. Spock(who later recanted his words) said you should not spank kids. So, it stopped in schools. Then parents started saying(when their kids got into trouble), MY child would never do such a thing! Then, it was ok for young girls to have babies. So, the taxpayers have to pay for daycare centers in schools. Then, when people are in accidents...of course they have to sue the other party...just getting what they are 'due' is not enough...so it ends up costing everyone in higher premiums.
The world has just gotten greedy and lazy.

Answer 5

Let's not mince words... the "someone or some organization" you speak of are all liberal feel-gooders.

There are those of us out there that try and teach personal responsibility, but we get drowned out with the "it's society's fault" teachers.

Answer 6

You seem to be about three decades behind on America's pathology. Virtually no one believes what you are saying.

I do see lots of people engaging in flexible reality - like, it's okay to be a single mom whose kids never see her. No harm done, it's all just different strokes for different folks. Like being a two career power couple who never sees their kids.

In the late 60s, strides were made in recognizing that systems affected people, as well as their individual traits. It was quickly recognized as a huge mistake to leap from understanding what was beyond someone's control to excusing them from responsiblity for their actions. We have long prison sentences, with no parole in many states. We have a punitive, very short, welfare system.

Where do you actually see in your personal and everyday world people excused the way you say? I doubt anywhere. This is a conservative fantasy spun to get you excited, divided from your countrymen, and distracted from our very real problems.

87% of Americans hit their kids, so it's another fantasy to pretend that not spanking is causing America's problems. Of course, we would never use violence on our kids, it lowers the iq among many other problems. Instead, we do the intellgent and demanding kind of parenting that requires talking with your kids about what your expectations are and holding them accountable with consequences that matter to them.

Answer 7

just because they make a media circus out of it, it does not mean that the majority of the population is not responsible for itself in every way.

Answer 8

It's liberalism run amok I tell ya. The victim syndrome is alive and well in this country and isn't going away any time soon.

Answer 9

Liberals have redefined freedom as freedom from personal responsibility.

Individual freedom no longer exist in this country.

Answer 10

Its been replaced with I am a liberal-nothing is my fault-I am a victim-give me money-the U.S. sucks-me-me-me-ism. Liberals are what happens when you don't slap your kids early on. They become spoiled adults!