From my latest article on Outraged Citizen:
Republican leaders and talkers say they want to get the government off your back, lower your taxes, and – of course – allow you the privilege of handling your own problems without help from the government. They say they believe in "personal responsibility," and the implication always is that Democrats who want government to provide assistance to those in need do not believe in personal responsibility, and ordinary people who need help are not acting responsibly (neither of which is true).
My observation, however, is that what Republicans are really saying when they talk about personal responsibility is that they don't believe in being responsible for and to each other. They don't believe in "being their brother's keeper" and they don't care to consider how their behavior impacts negatively on others. They believe in the individual's right to do what they want, not the individual's responsibility to care for and acknowledge the needs, rights, and comfort of others.
