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January 12, 2005
Homespun Blogger Symposium Question
The Homespun Blogger question of the week comes from CJ at The Unmentionables:
What, in your opinion, are the moral responsibilities of the individual citizen in the United States (or your own country) today and how do you believe people should act upon (or react to) those perceived responsibilities?
During one of the Democratic presidential primary debates some years ago, the candidates were fielding questions from the audience. One of the people asked something like
What does the government owe people?The nominees fell over themselves in assuring everyone that if elected would spend a ton of money because the government owes you so much. The questioner then had a follow up (and again I go from memory):
What do the recipients of this aid owe the government?Stunned silence from the candidates. For the next few minutes they stuttered and stumbled and looked utterly foolish.
We live in an age in which many think that they have few, if any, responsibilities, and that we should look to the government for the answers. Our first moral responsibility is simply to be responsible for our actions. People need to take responsibility for their situation and work to improve or change without first thinking that the government has the obligation to help them We need to put an end to the ideology of victimhood. No doubt some people are genuinely in need and require our help. No serious person disputes this. But the issue is that there are too many who wallow in "victimhood" and there are professional hucksters who play off this.
Next, we must be law-abiding. "Give to Caesar what is Caesar's and to God what is Gods" This sounds obvious, but it is all to easy to rationalize breaking the small laws. Driving over the speed limit, exaggerating on charitable donations for tax purposes, all these and a hundred more are the little temptations we deal with every day.
Following on this is the obligation in all we do to be a good example not only to our fellow citizens but to future generations as well. This includes everthing from the dictates of common courtesy to behaviour while driving.
We have an obligation to stay informed as to the issues of the day, and to vote our conscience. This does not mean you need to be a news hound like me (heaven forbid) but total ignorance is not acceptable either. Democracy needs an at least moderately informed populace.
Moral issues are at the heart of who we are as a people. The third Symposium question was on what we thought was the greatest long-term threat to our country. Many of the bloggers responded that moral issues were paramount. I agree that these issues are very important. As such, we have an obligation to lead moral lives.
Raising our children to be good citizens and good people is a moral obligation. I do not have any myself. However, I think it safe to say that parents have an obligation is to try. But that is just it; an obligation to try, not that you must succeed.
These are some of my thoughts on the matter. I'm sure that other Homespun Bloggers will have much of value to add on this matter.
Posted by Tom at January 12, 2005 9:26 PM
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