Personal Responciblility

Whatever happen to personal responsibility? You know, that term we use when people take credit for the mistakes the make. Or how about this, when people determine that they will be the final decision maker in their life. They won't cry for help when they find themselves in a tough situation, at least not until there is no other choice.

I remember the life story of my grandfather. Dropped out of school in the sixth grade. Worked in a coal mine until it ran dry. He left his family and moved up north until he raised enough money to bring his wife and five kids with him.

And then there's my mother. Raised two kids without the help of a husband. Why, because my father was a angry drunk who liked to let his fist talk for him. After she left him, he never paid a dime in child support and she didn't care. She was happy to be as far away from him as she could. She happy to work two jobs at times to make a little extra money to help provide for us. She loved us and she knew we were safe.

They both chose personal responsibility. My mom could have ran to the government for help. She qualified for every program out there. My grandfather could have choose to find a new family, a new life. But they didn't. It was their responsibility to take care of their family and themselves. They did just that. They found ways, legally I might add, to make ends meet, to keep food on the table and clothes on our backs.

But today, where is personal responsibility? It seems to have been all but forgotten. From fathers abandoning their families, to mothers who care more for these dirt bag fathers then they do their own children. We've become a society who expects the government to solve all of our problems. First fix my needs (food stamps) and then give me what I want (health care, free education, housing). And how can we expect people to take responsibility when our leaders refuse to do so. When we have high ranking officials cheating on their taxes and we have no problem with them "serve" our country. When we elect officials with clear ties to un-American groups and refuse to condemn their actions.

Oh where oh where has personal responsibility gone?

Will the city be out of control

It is being reported that instead of 150 police officers being laid off in the city of Toledo it will only be 75, for now. The remaining 75 will have to wait and see. In a city where it's mayor is use to getting his way by any means necessary, you have to wonder just how far he will go. Before one officer was removed from the street violent crime had increased from year to year. Within the last week there has been two shootings, one fatal, in the south end alone.  This decision to lay off cops instead of the many other departments is a clear example of his arrogance and disregard for the people of Toledo. He is putting the people in harms way by removing the officers. It is a shame that he has abandoned the first and primary responsibility of government, protect the rights of the people.  

Now we must wait and see what will happen. Will the city become out of control without the officers? God I hope and pray that will not be the case.