"It's your fault! It's not my responsibility! Why should I care? These statements are being made all over the United States everyday. People are starting to take less responsibility, if any at all. It's always someone else's problem to deal with. It is a scary thought that our people are becoming this lazy. Some show their irresponsibility by suing anyone that looks at them the wrong way. Others are abusing the federal aid they receive and taking it for granted that the government should always take care of them., even if they aren't doing anything on their part. Not taking responsibility can simply be arriving to work late because you forgot to set your alarm, but not admitting that it was your fault. Who else's fault is it? Everyone has an obligation to take responsibility for his or her actions and be mature enough to realize when a wrongdoing is his or her fault.

It definitely wasn't Cynthia Ellwood's husband's fault that she suffered severe brain damage when he blew a stop sign going approximately 50 m.p.h. and ran directly into a school bus. It was the bus company's fault and Cynthia Ellwood got her chance to show the company how she felt when she sued the bus company and won herself $1.9 million after taking out all of her legal expenses. In Washington D.C., a seven month old baby is left unattended in the bathroom sink while her mother is temporarily occupied with another child. An older brother turns on the hot water and burns the young child left in the sink. This time it is the apartment's fault for not having the water heater inspected. Because if it had been, the plumber would have realized that the temperature of the water was 23 degrees above the suggested, but not mandatory, level. The family took this to court and won $16 million. This family should keep in mind that if the baby had never been left unattended, then maybe the accident wouldn't have happened. A popular problem that shouldn't go without mentioning is the United States welfare plan. It is commonly abused and is a perfect example of personal responsibility that is not being taken. The government has a duty to help those who are in financial difficulty, but when does their aid come to an end? The welfare program was started to aid our down and out citizens to help them get back on their feet and take responsibility for themselves and their families. Perhaps shortening the time the program is offered would help towards a solution to the misuse of welfare.

There are citizens all over the nation working to their limit trying to do good for those who need it. They should not be forgotten. Thousands of shelters are operating everyday to support and aid OUR homeless. The elderly and shut-ins can benefit from hot food and companionship if they are lucky enough to have a food drive located close to them. This organization is run by a vast number of human beings. The famous, televised Comic Relief is also a big example of how our nation can contribute to the homeless and our nation's future. My high school's SODA program (Students Opposed to Drugs and Alcohol) is designed to help other teenagers stay away from harmful elements like alcohol, cigarettes, marijuana, etc. Also, this Christmas our high school donated over 125 gifts to the needy so they could have a happier holiday. It's people like these that are taking responsibility even if they don't have to. It would be a better world if there were more people like these.

Responsibility starts at home. Parents are and should be expected to teach responsibility to their children, our future. At a young age, a child needs to be taught and shown that he or she is responsible for his or her choices, whether good or bad. As they grow they should be able to realize that everyday of their lives they will be responsible for someone or something, number one, themselves. When a parent shows responsible behavior within their family unit, this behavior will flow to their children and affect their lives in a positive manner.

"In the 1990's the word family is almost a joke. Now, unfortunately, families spend very little time together, and even more unfortunate is the fact that it shows. Throughout the enormous variety of human experiences, over all continents and throughout all history, no society has ever survived without family or responsibilities.

Sometimes among the heap of problems, we find a glimmer of hope. Here in my home town of Newell, Iowa, there's a family who takes in foster children. These children are often weighed down with many problems and are in desperate need for love and a stable family life. I personally see the great leaps and bounds that these children make with their new family. There's also a family who adopted two children. These two children happened to be brother and sister, and they feared separation. The Ites family made sure that they would remain together. In addition to individual things, we have town supported family activities. Some include the Family Pool Ticket and the Family Golf Membership, which allows cheaper rates. The town also puts on family golf tournaments and a family winterfest of games in the winter. A great time is often had by all.

Churches also play an important role in family. The Nain Lutheran Church of Newell has family programs that help families talk out problems and simply talk to others who have shared their same problems. Since talking is often times a great way to solve something, this program is especially helpful. Likewise, we have the school stepping up and teaching an extraordinary class on family living. Students must haul a baby around for several weeks. They get a close up, hands on experience on parenting.

"The idea of responsibility needs to first be stressed in the home even to the smallest of children. It would be a great building block for them as they grow and mature and understand what the concepts mean. Learning responsibility in the late teenage years is just too late. There should be incentive programs started to provide the tools needed by parents to teach their children. This would include expert counseling in the home by trained professionals. There could also be self-help support groups for parents that need help stressing the idea of responsibility. Programs could also be implemented to put responsibility directly into the children’s hands. At school, they could designate certain students everyday to be in charge of tasks throughout the day. Not only would this teach responsibility, it would also give the child a sense of accomplishment.

"An Idaho grocery chain donated thirty cases of beer and ten cases of wine coolers "to increase employee morale and good feeling" at a picnic sponsored by the chain's employee's association. The alcohol was served in open troughs full of ice and anyone could have one. After the picnic, an intoxicated employee drove home and killed a teenager who was walking on the side of the road. The Idaho Supreme Court held the employer company liable because the company was responsible for providing an intoxicated employee with an automobile."
Jason Witzke, Newell-Fonda High School, Newell, Iowa