originally posted by: DAVID64
Are you speaking of that dreaded term "Personal responsibility"?
I am not...conservatives like to think liberals have no sense of personal responsibility. Well that's generalization and a wrong perception of the
term.
I am personally responsible but when I had nothing at all because of bad luck, I was happy a system was there to help me out. Some don't have parents
you know? Don't get me wrong, I pity those that have no higher aspirations than being fed by the system but I feel that it's the responsibility of
helping those in need and "teach them how to fish".
originally posted by: DAVID64
My own sense of personal responsibility tells me to get out and work for what I want, not expect someone to feel sorry for me and give it to
me.
This is where you are wrong about your emotion, your perception. That's not your sense of responsibility, that's out of the issue because our survival
isn't at stake, it's your ego, your desire to get better, have better and feel better about yourself. And there's nothing wrong with that unless this
makes you step on other's heads in an evil way or become over obsessed with wealth.
I'll take Star Trek, again, for example...
Does Captain Picard have the same room than people on the lower decks?
Will people have a parade for and remember Stan Wilton from 34C left wing?
Will kids want to be like Stan or Jean-Luc?
Of course not, it would be absurd to live in a world where achievers would receive nothing in return!
But I will tell you what Stan and Picard had the same...
A house, food, health care, education and a chance to become just as important if they work for it.
Some just haven't found their star, their dream, their path and see no point to aspiring for more and that happens! And it's mostly temporary and
always a minority. Just like some like to philosophize and some prefer to watch reality TV. The intellectual rewards of thinking sure outweighs
watching reality TV but that's to each his own.
originally posted by: DAVID64
You don't help anyone by taking care of them past a certain point, you're just teaching them not learn to take care of themselves.
I fully agree with you on this.
originally posted by: DAVID64
Teach a man to fish and he has no excuse for whining at you to give him another fish."
Unless he has no waters to work with.
originally posted by: DAVID64
People will find any excuse for others to give them what they want, so they don't have to earn it.
But that's a minority! And that minority could become smaller if everyone had more or less the same opportunities instead of this unjust world that
makes many bright minds just trow the towel. Anyway, a workable minority for a well established society and this shouldn't be an issue.
My feelings of personal responsibility have long been shifted to civil responsibility and this feeling of personal responsibility is nothing more than
the transposed animal instinct of survival, into aspiring to personal achievements.