The left continues to dismiss personal accountability. This should concern those of us that believe in civility
If you ever want to better understand a person’s character, observe driving habits. Lately I’ve seen more and more erratic driving, not just on highways, but in residential areas as well. Over the last month, I’ve seen someone drive what seemed to be 100mph in an area that is 35. I’ve seen motorcycles and cars purposely run red lights, pop wheelies in heavy traffic, and swerve in and out of lanes as if no other vehicle were there. In late March, after I took my niece and nephew out to dinner and dropped them off, I witnessed what appeared to be at least ten vehicles racing down a road being chased by a lone police car. As the intersection cleared, I started driving down the same road. I was pulled over about a block later because I drive a sports car, and my car fit the description of several vehicles being pursued. They were after a Mustang 5.0, so I didn’t get a ticket. Afterward, I couldn’t help but think of the number of lives put in danger by these selfish human beings, and that they had no regard for anyone, regardless if it was a child, an elderly person or someone with a disability.
Selfish behavior like this been occurring for quite some time, and maybe I’m just noticing it now. Though many of us might be guilty of speeding here and there, the reckless driving I’ve witnessed lately seems to have a new level of bravado to it, one without fear of any consequences. Driving is dangerous to begin with, but right now, criminals find themselves in a different limelight. Much of the past two years has made them more of a victim than a perpetrator, due to the left’s demonization of law enforcement. This isn’t an exaggeration. You can see it in the policies being passed in major cities across the US. This past March, Los Angeles became one of a handful of cities along with Philadelphia and Seattle, (no surprises here) to ban “minor” traffic stop offenses, such as broken headlights or expired tags, in which many believe unfairly targets minority drivers. Despite the dramatic increase in crime, liberal policy makers continue to push agendas that fail to understand that crime is not a made up fantasy. And data shows it. Violent crime in Philadelphia is up 12%, and my home town of Albuquerque saw 117 homicides in 2021, shattering it’s previous record of 80 in 2019, which in turn, shattered it’s previous record before that. Today’s leftists view law and order as outdated and uncompassionate, which shows they have no historically understanding of why we have laws in the first place. Their sympathy for criminals is peculiar, since criminals have no sympathy for their victims, and politicians should represent all of us. Some criminals just commit crime without reason, and for many, this is an inconvenient truth .
Why the left believes removing accountability from actions is more compassionate than protecting those that respect the law might not ever be fully understood. It’s not a matter of socioeconomics as we are being told, or race. A Gallup poll in August of 2020 showed 81% of Black Americans want more law enforcement, not less. Sure, maybe you don’t think it’s a big deal to register your car, so should we just not register it at all? There’s a reason we do, and it’s not because of racism. Driving is a privilege, not a fundamental right, and there are responsibilities that come with this right. A society should thrive on the personal accountability of it’s citizens, but in a shameless attempt to secure votes, the left removes it, and attempts to rebrand accountability as oppressive. Being accountable for our actions is progressive, yet the laws currently being touted will lead us down a very tragic path of regression. Right now, criminals are becoming more emboldened to break the law, and it shouldn’t surprise anyone. When you have a Vice President that calls for vandalism to be decriminalized, you really need to reflect on who you choose as leaders. Eventually we will reap what we sow.
Personal responsibility is what makes us civil, and shapes societal norms. Without it, we become the wild west, which wouldn’t bother criminals, but should bother everyone else. Personal responsibility is challenging, and appeasement is often the easier path to take. Sadly, much of our educational system also believes this. If you ever had any form of education, you’d know that a good teacher challenges their students not to jump to conclusions, and look at all perspectives. This is not happening in many parts of the country. Florida’s parental rights in education bill, which prohibits the discussion of sex in grades K-3, is referred by many as the “Don’t say gay bill.” Nevermind the word gay is nowhere to be found in the bill, but it’s passage has now become a rallying cry for the Biden administration, as well as billion dollar corporations such as Disney. It’s not unreasonable to say that sex and sexuality should be left up to parents, and be left out of the classroom, at least up until 3rd grade. Considering that most 3rd graders are between the ages of 8 and 9, it’s bewildering to understand why many are opposed to the bill.
Accepting responsibility for actions is extremely important for society, and it shouldn’t be dismissed. Those of us that have morals understand this, and understand that rights, come with responsibilities. A society that holds individuals accountable for actions is both civil and compassionate.
Until next time
JPN