Who Is Responsible?

Bad things happen to all of us. They may occur due to our own negligence or stupidity. Not all accidents are our fault. The behavior of others might be the cause of our trouble. In other cases things just happen as the nature of existence is unpredictable. When a problem is caused, that requires money to fix, people seem to take on a whole new attitude. The aggrieved want someone else to pay. The guilty never admit culpability. Lawyers are always ready to represent one side or the other. The question becomes who or what must ultimately take responsibility?

I enjoy watching some of the trial shows on cable. I have seen, time and again, people refuse to take any responsibility for their actions. They have used some of the lamest excuses you have ever heard. No matter how cut and dry the matter is the defendant simply will not make restitution. They may even admit that what they did caused the problem for the plaintiff. They still find some ridiculous reason to deny wrongdoing. God forbid they should pay even a penny to make the plaintiff whole.

Sometimes nature causes what are called "acts of God." These are things that happen in which no one can really be blamed. Many times though, people are so angry and upset, a mere mortal must shoulder the blame. There must be someone at fault the wounded cry. It is difficult to accept that sometimes shit happens. In these cases those who hurt look everywhere, except within themselves, for someone to lay blame upon. Individuals and corporations alike are forced to spend money in defense of themselves when culpability is not deserved.

Who really benefits from all of these scenarios? Although most attorneys are fair-minded and honest there will always be the shysters. The proverbial ambulance chasers are no longer limited to our nation's highways. Now they advertise on television. Toll-free numbers and "no fee unless you win" come-ons abound. Any accident victim, whether actually hurt or not, is ripe fodder for these unscrupulous dealers. Did your medication do any little thing it should not have? Rest assured the sharks smell the blood in the water before you ever will.

We take no responsibility for our actions until we are the hurt party. What do these thoughtless individuals think all of this is teaching our children? We practically guarantee a new generation of even more selfish individuals. We hardly speak to strangers any longer. Words like please, thank-you and excuse me are rarely heard. If we ignore others we then need not be concerned how our actions may affect them. If we care not what we do why should we ever feel any responsibility for anything? I hope that those intelligent people reading this will be the exceptions to my rule.