Accountability and Responsibility

Today’s Accountability and Responsibility article comes from LexNaturalis, the Global Unanimocracy Network’s first addition to a group of writers adding in their unique and possibly contrasting opinions to the norm here.

Many people consider children to be one of the greatest gifts that can be given. That belief is somewhat naïve because a child is not a gift. A gift is something that is given without compensation. Ask any parent who is watching their first born son graduate from High School or College and see if they think everything is worth it. Ask a father if seeing his daughter’s joy on her wedding day is just compensation for years of care and love he bestowed upon her. A child is more than a gift. A child is a lifestyle; a child is life itself. That is, a child used to be a lifestyle.

Now a child is often no more than a tax break and a stressor. The school system and the government are seen as being in loco parentis and if that fails, the state is always there to pick up the slack with legislation aimed at alleviating all sense of personal responsibility. Given those failures, trial lawyers are more than willing to punish those that would cause a child to become depraved. In Pennsylvania, there is a radio ad that is urging citizens to call the police about underage drinking, because “you can stop underage drinking.” It doesn’t mention parental responsibility.

Nothing is more infuriating than a parent allowing their child to run wild out of laziness or simplicity. A person that does this is no parent. To be a parent, one has to actually parent. To the ignorant masses, parent is synonymous with “one who procreated.” Ashley Montagu is credited with saying, “a genitor who does not parent the child is not its parent,” and that is a very apt saying. Personal responsibility is not simply a good thing for a parent to have, but it is a necessity.

The state is not responsible for the child, nor should it be. It is not the state’s role to be a parent. Natural Law dictates that a parent be an actual parent; the child is the parent’s responsibility. It is not only immoral, but it is a travesty, for a parent to cede rights to the state to raise a child. A government should never be held responsible for the child. When personal responsibility disappears, however, sometimes the only thing left is for the government to step in and take charge. People need to start taking charge of their life and realizing that their actions will directly impact the life of their child. If that is not a truly sobering thought, then perhaps the reader should consider never procreating.

Your comments are welcome at the Accountability and Responsibility forum.
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LexNaturalis is a freelance writer and thinker from central Pennsylvania where he lives with his wife. He promotes personal responsibility to augment personal freedom.