Personal Responsibility vs. Government Control

Jim Harbison

Every day we read in the newspaper or hear on the news where someone is blaming someone else for their personal indiscretions, anti-social behavior, criminal activities, poor health, financial failures, or home mortgage foreclosures. We are provided with all kinds of justifications why we should not be held responsible, even for the most heinous crimes. It has become fashionable and socially or politically acceptable to blame others rather than to accept personal responsibility. The Government continues its drive to impose itself on nearly every aspect of our lives and to “protect” us from the consequences of our choices. As individuals we are losing the ability to make personal choices about many products or services we use. No longer does the free-market determine the type and quality of products that are available. The entrepreneurial spirit that caused America to be the world leader is being inhibited by excessive government management of our daily lives.

State and local governments are mandating healthy life styles, restricting products restaurants can use to prepare our meals, and limiting the types of foods that may be sold within the community. Cities have banned McDonald’s Happy Meals and mom’s home prepared brown-bag lunches are prohibited by schools because they are not considered “healthy”. When did the parents lose the personal responsibility for what their children eat? Why hasn’t the government mandated physical education in our schools rather than regulate what students eat. San Francisco has banned snack foods and soft drinks from all government buildings and mandated that only approved “healthy” foods, milk and fruit juices be sold. What happened to free enterprise, personal responsibility and individual choice?

The government does have a role in protecting society. Thomas Jefferson said “I predict future happiness for Americans if they can prevent the government from wasting the labors of the people under the pretense of taking care of them”. The question is “when does that role begin to diminish our individual freedoms?” Is it an appropriate role to prohibit behaviors and products rather than advise the public about their consequences? Shouldn’t government acknowledge the concept of personal responsibility rather than usurping it? Many of the poor choices made in the recent past can be attributed to government policies that failed to include personal responsibility. We should be teaching the values of individual responsibility and integrity in our schools. The government cannot control stupidity. Is it the proper role of government to protect us from ourselves? Can it even do that? Should the government become the parent? Even Oprah Winfrey, during her final show, stated that her success was due to her taking responsibility for herself. In a free society there will always be winners and losers and accepting individual responsibility for success or failure is what caused this nation to develop and become the envy of the world.

Oprah Winfrey

Unfortunately, much of our society has become so complacent or apathetic that they do not object to the increasing demise of individual freedoms and increasing government control over their lives. Life for them is simpler when they do not have to make decisions or take personal responsibility for themselves or for society. When people do this they forfeit another part of their freedom and give the government more responsibility to manage their lives.

I find it hard to disagree with Thomas Jefferson who said “my reading of history convinces me that most bad government results from too much government”. More government is no substitute for individual responsibility and accountability. We are responsible for our personal choices and we must expect each individual be held responsible for their own decisions and actions.

Personal Responsibility vs. Government Control