It is all about Personal Responsibility

“Who’s responsible? Whose fault is it? Maybe it’s his – or, wait, I bet it’s probably her fault. No, hold on a minute – it’s got to be their fault. There must be somebody out there for me to blame because I know I’m certainly not responsible. … OK, forget whose fault it is; who’s going to fix it? I can’t do it. Who’s going to fix it for me? What we need is a new law. Yeah, a new law would do it. And then when the same problem still exists we can blame those responsible for enforcing the new law. It’ll be their fault, at any rate it’s certainly not mine!”

This is what appears to be the attitude, or better still the mantra of the current Obama administration. How many times have we written about attribution – the ability to accept blame when it may, or may not be your fault; most importantly, the ability to take personal responsibility for something gone array?

In the opening paragraph everyone ostensibly is to blame. Maybe it’s his, maybe it’s hers, no maybe it’s theirs; then again the clincher, somebody must be to blame out there.

What comes next is what we believe is one of the primary shortcomings within the leadership and decision-makers in the United States of America. “I’m certainly not responsible…okay then; let’s forget about who’s responsible, so let’s focus on fault. And after getting the same results as previously stated, what the hay, who is going to fix this mess? Our hope beyond all hope is that we can each see some rather overwhelming examples — such as “Let’s blame Bush or  ”We inherited these problems… or how about the attorney general not obeying a Court ordered subpoena regarding weaponry sales, and some deceased US Border Patrol Agents, “Don’t blame me…”

Well it certainly can’t be those who are refusing to accept blame insofar as those aren’t the type that would have a vested interest in the mess. Therefore, living in the USA the remedy seems to be in the law. And just between you and us, the U.S. Constitution is not written on two pages of elongated parchment paper; no, the Constitution is volumes upon volumes of specific laws.

Personal responsibility is central to the idea of a free society and to the concept of self-government. Because each individual is morally responsible for his acts, citizens in a free society have an obligation to educate themselves to further the common good through the political process: this is the proper and necessary function of self-government.

Our opinion, for whatever it’s worth is divided precisely down the middle as it relates to the way we are becoming and to a large degree have become a state of dependent individuals. To an ever-growing extent it certainly appears that many in our great nation are becoming more and more content with relying on anyone but themselves. “Where is the government to help me? Why hasn’t a law been put in place to make that decision for me; so I have no choice but to behave responsibly?” (Or is it irresponsibly?)

We’re sure we don’t need to point out the obvious, but I need to anyway. We have not become the greatest nation this world has ever known on the backs of dependency-minded people. We will, however, become the greatest nation the world has ever seen collapse unless we as a nation, a nation of unique individuals, can once again begin to depend on one single person, and that person is you.

For generations now the American individual has been the sharpest mind, the hardest working body, and the most resilient spirit to walk this planet. We as a people and a nation filled with those kind of people have survived flood, famine, disaster, disease, economic hardship and violent attack only to rise time and time again. It seems, however, that as the recent years have ticked by, our minds are becoming blunt, our bodies are becoming somewhat weary, and to a moderate degree our resilience is waning. American mantras that have spawned from our national pride, such as “Don’t tread on me” or “I’m the man for the job,” are beginning to be overshadowed by a mindset that seems to say, “Do it for me” or “Will someone please help?”

It is a grotesque understatement to simply say that you have some monumental problems, issues, and significant challenges in your country today. You have more than your fair share of conflict and strife as it relates to immigration, foreign policy, racial divides, energy needs and enormous fiscal challenges.

You as an American have these issues, and you as a unique American individual looking to yourself while depending and expecting your fellow American to do the same, that is to have the ability to ultimately solve these issues in your individual capacity.

We’ve had that ability for generations, and it is my firm belief that we will continue to have for many generations to come the aptitude as individuals to form the many mighty links in an unbreakable chain and sustain the United States of America as the sole name on the list of greatest nations to ever grace this planet. This will only happen, however, if we as a nation of individuals begin to re-accept the fact that at the end of the day the only person responsible for us – is us.

 

 

 

 

 

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