One question I want to ask: Who’s responsible? That’s all I want to know. Can someone please step up and answer that question for me?
The United States Senate passed the governmental bailout yesterday and the House of Representatives will probably do the same today (Don’t they remember, off chance, that the US Constitution says that all such bills must originate in the House, not the other way around—but why let the Constitution get in the way of this garbage.).
I’m really torn on what the right decision is here, but the question I asked earlier is the burning question at this point. Who’s responsible? Should we seek to blame Wall Street for this? Should we seek to blame the CEOs who received golden parachutes? Should we blame congress for this mess? How about presidents Bush, Clinton, Bush, Reagan, Carter, or even Jefferson or Washington? Who’s responsible? No one so far.
Maybe an even better question would be: will no one take ownership of this mess and simply say, “We blew it!” Anybody? Anywhere? Not happening yet.
Now, with our government coming to the rescue to bail out all of those involved in this latest mess, we are just beginning to see people lining up to blame everyone else for the mess they are in.
A group named Which? is a London-based watchdog group. They have blamed Tony the Tiger, and Snap, Crackle, and Pop as “cartoon villains” for failing to promote healthy eating in children.
Other well-loved characters under fire include Coco the Coco Pops monkey and Quicky the Nesquik Bunny.
The characters were named in a Which? report for not helping with the fight against childhood obesity and poor diet. Out of 19 children’s food company cartoon favorites, not one was found to promote healthier products, researchers for the consumer campaign group found.
The Cartoon League Table was compiled by Which? after a survey found that two-thirds of people believe food companies should not be allowed to use popular characters to advertise unhealthy food.
Folks, let’s get real. Is there any one in our country that is being forced to eat these cereals? Are parents being forced to purchase these cereals as they walk down the WalMart aisle? I was in WalMart this morning and didn’t see that taking place. Maybe I missed it. Where is the responsibility of the parent? Shouldn’t it be parents who make decisions about what they feed their children, not some watchdog group.
Or, let’s look at this story. It comes from Milwaukee. Oprah Winfrey’s mother says she shouldn’t have to pay a nearly $156,000 debt to a high-end fashion store because store officials shouldn’t have extended credit to her.
Read that again. The store shouldn’t have extended her credit, so it is their fault for her running up at $156,000 debt! Yes, that’s what her countersuit says!
Here’s the story. Valentina Inc. alleges that Vernita Lee (Oprah’s mother) of Milwaukee racked up $155,547 in purchases and interest as of July 1. The company sued, saying Lee fell behind in minimum monthly payments of $2,000.
Lee filed a counterclaim Friday contending that Valentina took advantage of her “lack of knowledge, ability, and-or capacity” when creating her credit account.
I am just about sick after reading this story! Valentina is responsible for her debt because they allowed her to charge. Give me a break!
I see the lawyers lining up now. If I buy a car, drive it for 50,000 miles and really can’t afford to keep it up, I should be suing the car company that sold it to me. It’s their fault.
If I don’t get a raise at work, I should sue my college for not providing a proper education to me. It’s not my fault.
If I get a speeding ticket on the way to work, I should sue the car maker because they built that car to go that fast. If they had built it to go slower, I wouldn’t have gotten a ticket. It’s not my fault.
If I buy a house I can’t afford, furnish it with furniture that I can’t pay for, then obviously it is someone else’s fault. Not mine.
How have we gotten to this point? How have we sunk this low? I’m talking about all of us. Republicans. Democrats. Independents.
Who’s responsible? I am. You are.
What can we do about it?
Now, ain't that special?
ReplyDeleteWe live in a society where NO ONE wants to accept personal responsibility for anything anymore.....NO ONE!
A few years ago I read a book about several cases such as this. My favorite, being a baseball fan, was about a father suing a little league coach. Apparently, his son (I'll call him Joe since I can't remember his name) was the best player on the team and played short stop and pitcher; a position for athletes. Well, during the game, the center fielder got hurt. Having no one else to play at the position, the coach put Joe in Center. Not too long after Joe moved to the position a fly ball went his direction. Joe misjudged the flyball and it hit him, giving him a black eye. Joe's father sued arguing that Joe had no experience at the position, so he should not have been out there.
ReplyDeleteRidiculous? YES! I bet Joe coulda cared less as long as he was playing.
But yeah, personal responsibility is dead, dead, dead.
On a similar note, a lawyer friend of mine said that these types of cases are the exception. Most get thrown out of court. We at least have that going for us.
*shortstop
ReplyDeleteIt's my fault. Yep. All mine.
ReplyDeleteNow, where do I get my bailout money and who can I sue?
Heidi Reed
Heidi...the answers to your questions:
ReplyDeleteCall your congressman/woman for your bailout me...
Not me!
Phil...any suggestions on how to change that?
ReplyDeleteMichael...I'm afraid we could create a long, long, long list of examples like the one you have given and the two I gave...
ReplyDeleteAs always, thanks for stopping by and commenting...
So Steve you want to tell us how you really feel? :) Just kidding of course because you have just stated probably the feelings of many people in your post. I know they are mine. As a pastor I deal all the time with people who want to say it isn't their fault. You know how that is. My parents didn't potty train me right. They forced me to eat liver. Ad infinitum. Ad nauseum. The Bible is clear that we are all unrighteous, no not one. Each one will stand before God some day and I won't be answering for you or anyone else. It is me I will be answering for. The ultimate responsibility. As for "O"'s mom? Tell the daughter to bail her out unless O realizes that without taking responsibility for her own stupidity and greed her mom would do it all over again.
ReplyDeleteBill...you should hear me when I REALLY have an opinion! :)
ReplyDelete