I’ve recently talked about the idea that government bailouts aren’t teaching us to be responsible, but there is a new article up at Five Cent Nickel that asks, "Is Personal Responsibility Dead?":

Unless you’ve been lost at sea for the better part of seven years, you’re likely aware of the economic problems that have pushed us “against the financial ropes,” both individually and as a nation. As ridiculous as it sounds, these problems stem from Ricki Lake and Richard Simmons as much as they stem from Osama Bin Laden and George W. Bush.

No, we’re not in this predicament because we haven’t been “Sweatin’ to the Oldies.” Nor are we here solely due to 9/11, Republicans, Democrats, or other bureaucrats. We’re here because, on a whole, we’ve become a nation that rebels against virtue and character, and chooses instead to value the emptiness of fame and fortune.

In a word: yes. Our country was built on the simple premise that one worked hard and took responsibility for their actions. We sure aren’t living in THAT world anymore. Our culture today wants to be rich, famous, loved, and have all the time in the world to have fun. But the reality is, a person of good character will have to work to provide for themselves and their families, and will have to stand up for their values in the face of ridicule on occasion.

Just because it’s fun doesn’t mean it’s right. Just because you think it makes you happy doesn’t mean it’s good for you. And just because it may be unpleasant now doesn’t mean it won’t pay off in the long run. Let’s get back to rolling up our sleeves and getting ourselves dirty. Let’s put down that fifth beer and start acting like adults. That means treating each other with respect, caring about your fellow man, and standing up for your morals.

Otherwise, we continue this wonderful downward spiral that we keep hoping the government will pull us out of. It’s your call.

Get great, practical advice sent straight to your inbox every week! For more information on The Practical Nerd Rules for Life, click here. Plus, learn how you can get a copy of my FREE ebook!

Post Footer automatically generated by Add Post Footer Plugin for wordpress.