“YOU are responsible for YOU.” That was the Garfield poster that hung in just about every elementary school classroom I’d been in. Such a statement seems to be irrelevant in today’s society.
In the good old days people were reasonably self-sufficient and accepted responsibility for their position in life. They provided for themselves in every sense. In today’s America we emphasize fairness and place blame on society for the struggles of the less fortunate. We neglect the power and potential of the individual and instead “celebrate” the diversity of everybody’s group.
This United States is experiencing a radical progression into a more socialist state. This is not the result of good politics, but rather the unfortunate change in American ideals. The new popular thought is that the government should be responsible for the economic and social welfare of its citizens, and that individual citizens need this support to survive.
No longer do people take personal responsibility for their own welfare, but instead insist on the government providing welfare for them. People want the government and taxpayers to take care of their every necessity, namely economic ones such as jobs and health care. No longer is there pride in personal responsibility and accomplishment. Instead we cast shame on those who are “fortunate.” There is now a sense of entitlement to everything that used to be earned through hard work and good choices.
Certain candidates in the coming election are using this trendy new way of thinking in an effort to win votes. They advocate the taxation of the “fortunate” for the benefit of the “less fortunate.” They easily win the minds of voters with ideas of “change.” Change, in their sense, meaning the swift transition from independence to government dependence.
They promote the idea that successful individuals are not responsible for their own success, but rather “won life’s lottery,” as certain presidential candidates call it. Vice versa, average citizens are not responsible for their average lifestyles, but corrupt corporations and rich white men are. The uneducated masses buy into this talk of “change” and the theory that by relying on government for our every need, we’ll all be taken care of fair and square, and no longer will the fortunate (the majority of whom are personally responsible people who worked harder and lived smarter) reap the benefits at their expense.
Life’s lottery is earned, not won. Granted, some people find themselves in unfortunate situations. For example, a family of five might be struggling to provide on $30,000 a year. Woe. But bluntly, if that couple’s family income is $30,000 a year, what are they doing with three kids? That sounds like lack of personal responsibility on the couple’s part. It isn’t everybody else’s liability to pay for that family’s full health coverage, that man’s job training, or that couple’s retirement if they haven’t made the right lifestyle choices to afford it. Just like elementary school where it isn’t everybody else’s legal duty to lend you a pencil because you left yours in your cubby.
As for a real-life example, this country witnessed the effects of government dependence during the catastrophic events surrounding Hurricane Katrina. Despite numerous warnings to evacuate the area, many of the residents of New Orleans waited on the government to evacuate them or give them directions. Those who didn’t evacuate were stuck to bear the consequences of government reliance, which failed them. Then it wasn’t anybody’s own fault for not leaving the city safely, but President Bush’s for not protecting and saving the city of New Orleans. Blame someone else. The ruling party of Louisiana and New Orleans happened to be the party of fairness and government dependence. As America witnessed, the rapidly growing Big Brother isn’t always there when you need him.
As the trend continues the country will become more and more dependent on the politicians we elect to office. When will the line between personal and societal responsibility be drawn? At the current pace, never.
Humans learn and grow through making mistakes and acknowledging them. Our society will get dumber and dumber as we sacrifice freedoms for securities and independence for benefits. Personal responsibility means embracing individuality, accepting accountability and taking initiative.
Deep down, you’ve probably known that since elementary school.
— Oliver Casey is a sophomore in enterprise management. He can be reached at [email protected].
