Responsibility: Personal vs Public

[Pikonic]

The recent locked tread here got me thinking about a much broader question. Where is the line between personal responsibility and public responsibility? That tread asked for schools to do gentian checks on children to check for mutaltaion or abuse, which I think is too much.

What's ok to have the government/society be responcible for and what is up to the individual.
Here's an example:
I think having free and adequate education for everyone is a public responciblity.
I think making sure children don't play video games or watch media intended for an older audience is a personal responsibility.
I don't like the idea of laws banning certain unhealthy foods because I think eating healthy should be a personal, not public responsibility.
I think free contraceptives (free condoms EVERYWHERE) should be a public responsibility. Those shits are expensive now.

 

[StallChaser]

I'm with you on most of it, but unhealthy foods is a grey area. I don't think anything should be banned (this includes most drugs), but taxes that pay for health care consequences are OK. The biggest problem with junk food is that it's extremely cheap in the short run, but expensive in the long run because of things like diabetes. Unless the costs of those complications are already factored in, you can't say you're truly making a informed decision.

 

[Marvin]

I'm with you on most of it, but unhealthy foods is a grey area. I don't think anything should be banned (this includes most drugs), but taxes that pay for health care consequences are OK. The biggest problem with junk food is that it's extremely cheap in the short run, but expensive in the long run because of things like diabetes. Unless the costs of those complications are already factored in, you can't say you're truly making a informed decision.

The people have decided, by voting (or failing to vote) that the cost of investigating and implementing better regulations on junk food isn't worth it to them.

You can't claim to have a perfectly informed decision, because perfect information doesn't exist. You can only make the most informed decision possible, given the costs and benefits. Which is what these people have done.

 

[Hummingbird]

In cases where you have power or a high-ranking position, both personal and professional become more important. BP or the release of Pinto are good examples of this. Their responsibility was to be careful and make sure their products were safe since their actions will effect more people than it does with a less powerful person. How many people lost their fishing and restaurant businesses because BP wrecked their water they got their livelihood from? Or how many innocent people died or were maimed because Ford (I think it was them) refused to fix the Pinto's obvious problems?

 

[Marvin]

In cases where you have power or a high-ranking position, both personal and professional become more important. BP or the release of Pinto are good examples of this. Their responsibility was to be careful and make sure their products were safe since their actions will effect more people than it does with a less powerful person. How many people lost their fishing and restaurant businesses because BP wrecked their water they got their livelihood from? Or how many innocent people died or were maimed because Ford (I think it was them) refused to fix the Pinto's obvious problems?

I really like Bruce Schneier's take on these sorts of problems. He talks about it from an economic angle, which is cool. When you approach it that way, even with vast differences in ideology, everyone can still come together over the essential core of the problem, which is always going to be economic.

 

[fuzzypickles]

On the subject of public responsibility, with the recent renewal of anti-vaccine hysteria, I say that getting your children vaccinated is absolutely a matter of public responsibility. Parents who elect not to vaccinate their children are a direct cause of disease outbreaks in communities, and should bear the burden of responsibility for the consequences of their choice.

Think about it, do you want your child's health to be endangered by fools who give in to pseudoscience?

 

[Hummingbird]

On the subject of public responsibility, with the recent renewal of anti-DIRTY, CRAPPED BRIEFS hysteria, I say that getting your children vaccinated is absolutely a matter of public responsibility. Parents who elect not to vaccinate their children are a direct cause of disease outbreaks in communities, and should bear the burden of responsibility for the consequences of their choice.

Think about it, do you want your child's health to be endangered by fools who give in to pseudoscience?

Or you can do what the Republicans do and blame the immigrants.

 

[WilhelmIIofPrussia]

It's not always a case of principles and responsibility.
You could say that delivering letters is not a public responsibility. But Royal Mail, which was recently privatized, produced a profit for the British taxpayer. Why privatize something when its existence helps pay off national debt?

 

[Datiko]

Or you can do what the Republicans do and blame the immigrants.

Its technically both. The parents through their idiocy created a vulnerability in America's viral defence. Some of these diseases don't exist in the US due to the high vaccination rates so they are brought in by immigrants from less strict countries. I think its weird the US doesn't do some sort of health screening for immigrants. Most of the countries I have moved to make me show vaccination records and sometimes get a chest x-ray to check for TB.

 

[Sanic]

Undivided activity is what is needed to make the correct choice on the manner. Focused thought. That said, from my experience, others should come first, even if it's an incredibly hard thing to do. Compassion for others is what drives us all towards happiness. Kindness begets kindness. And never go in expecting anything in return, that's just fueling your selfish ego then. Don't dwell on the past, but remember it. Think of the future and the acts of kindness that can be performed for those around you.

Do it now, in undivided activity. No thought, no hesitation, only action. Once you understand, you'll be a generally happier person. At least from my experience.

 

[Yinci]

The recent locked tread here got me thinking about a much broader question. Where is the line between personal responsibility and public responsibility? That tread asked for schools to do gentian checks on children to check for mutaltaion or abuse, which I think is too much.

What's ok to have the government/society be responcible for and what is up to the individual.
Here's an example:
I think having free and adequate education for everyone is a public responciblity.
I think making sure children don't play video games or watch media intended for an older audience is a personal responsibility.
I don't like the idea of laws banning certain unhealthy foods because I think eating healthy should be a personal, not public responsibility.
I think free contraceptives (free condoms EVERYWHERE) should be a public responsibility. Those shits are expensive now.

There is a bit of a co-relation that can't settle on the right or left wing. Say you have public healthcare or your desperate for your population to fuel a demanding industry. You would be more willing to control people to improve the function of their lives.

The United States right now and the divide between socialism and Laissez fair seems to be the debate if people are replaceable or not and what way should the society be designed. In Europe the Far Right and Left are both in on maximizing the use of the citizen. Another example is Communist China where people are fed chemicals and used a cannon fodder in the construction industry.

 

[Vingle]

Banning unhealthy foods is a public responsibility, because healthcare is fucked with obesity. That easily could be prevented.
This can't be compared with drug use, because overdoses goes down when it gets legal. Because people aren't afraid to seek help.

The public have proven more than enough, that it can't be a personal responsibility.