Reckless Consumption and Definitions of Responsibility

We hear a lot about the need for responsibility. However most people who talk about it have a wrong idea of what it is.

The first problem is that what is being encouraged here is reckless consumption and reckless reproduction. These things are not even more responsible than drug addiction. The drug addict hurts himself and the people who love him; the reckless consumer hurts the planet and people in it.

Another problem is that, when everyone is “tending to their own garden,” common concerns don’t get addressed, and all the gardens go underwater. It will make sense to tend to one’s garden when these problems are solved. It does not make sense to do so when the problems are still going on.

As for myself, I very much am responsible. I’ve worked the bulk of my life. I have a 15-year-old daughter who’s doing well in every way. I promoted a clean energy invention. I’ve made major contributions in culture, translating full body of poetry by two major Russian poets. I am currently studying for a career in relationship counselling.

Someone once attacked people on a forum where I was writing, saying that they could fit all their belongings in a paper bag. This speaks in favor of them, not against them. They weren’t polluting. They weren’t practicing reckless consumption. And any number of them worked hard enough.

Since when did reckless consumption become the definition of responsibility? It appears to have started under Reagan. When I said to someone that 1970s seemed like a nice time, she said, “Yeah, it was a nice time if you didn’t want to be responsible.” The 1980s people were far more irresponsible than the 1970s people. 1970s people did sex, drugs and rock and roll. 1980s people did reckless consumption and reckless reproduction.

Responsibility needs to be defined correctly. True responsibility can be summed up in one statement: Leaving the world a better place than you have found it. 

The people who aren’t willing to do that have no business talking about responsibility. Even drug addicts are more responsible than they are. And it is in everyone’s benefit to challenge their concept of what responsibility is.