There is a news item that seems ridiculous. The California Department of Transportation must pay out 6.3 million for being partially responsible in the wrongful death of two teenage girls.
The driver, Gina Norris, who plead guilty in juvenile court to vehicular manslaughter received no jail time. The 17-year-old girl intentionally sped on a rolling road in the San Bernardino Mountains in a deliberate attempt to get airborne, lost control and killed two passengers. A survivor and mothers of the dead girls sued Caltrans for wrongful death, arguing the road was hazardous. Caltrans argued the road was safe when driven legally.
There is defined right and wrong here that is set aside. Culpability belongs to Gina Norris. She is not an adult so her parents (or guardian) should be held accountable for certain fiscal aspects.
Your average parents would not be able to afford a 6.3 million dollars. Teens dying in a crash is a sad tragic thing. The State of California has a large cash flow, so lets compensate the loss from someone with money... What exactly does that say about this particular jury?
What example does it set when the leader of your country brings about a cutback of charitable giving and states that the government will take up the slack? We hear a lot about government responsibility and quite a bit more of the government blaming the government for what the government did and how only the government can fix this mess the government made.
Responsibility for your actions and choices is not marginalized by your ability to pay. Neither is it mitigated by which direction you point. You are responsible for yourself and your family, your community and your representatives and your fellow human beings. You can not delegate responsibility away, you can only be irresponsible in your choices.
Goverment Responsibility? Harry Truman is rotating in his grave.
1 comment:
Too many people feel like the world owes them something.
And why are we surprised when there are generations growing up on welfare? Where a reality show lets you become famous? You just need to be at the right place at the right time, and all your dreams come true (so try to BE there instead of actually working your way there).
The hard working ethic has gone by the wayside in favor of instant gratification. It's too easy to fall into that anyway. You see it all around you all the time.
Why should you work hard and sacrifice & save when your neighbor gets anything they want, and then goes into bancruptcy when they can't pay for it?
It's such a different world from when our parents were growing up.
Post a Comment