And I'm prepared to take the blame...
I’m writing this in response to a number of pieces I’ve read here recently and to a disturbingly increasing amount of media reports about this as well. I want to know where people think personal responsibility stops and where public liability starts?
I believe there are very few instances where personal responsibility should stop. The way I see it, if I trip over the crack in the sidewalk or spill a hot beverage on myself, I am the only person responsible. If I drive my car into oncoming traffic because the sun has reflected off a building into my eyes, well, it is an accident but no one is to blame, unless you want to blame the sun. It is an Act of Nature that has caused the accident. The people who own the building or clean the windows can’t be held responsible. Accidents do happen. And when accidents happen, sometimes people get hurt. It is unfortunate or, in some cases, even tragic, but it is reality. Some of the suits I’ve read about recently are anything but realistic. Yet people still pursue them and judges still let them be heard.
How about if I were in my own kitchen and my wife had made a nice hot cup of coffee, which I then spilt over myself? I’m not going to sue her, am I? She knows I’m an adult and I should be able to hold a hot cup of coffee. Her trusting in this is preconceived, sure, but putting trust in pretty much anything or anyone involves having some sort of preconceived notion of how they will behave. (As an aside, I also am acutely aware of how clumsy I can be, so I am more than willing to say ‘Oops’, apply some antiseptic cream to the burn and clean up the mess).
Personal responsibility has eroded to the point in Australia where events such as school fetes and dog shows are unable to go ahead because the insurance costs are just too much for the organisers to cover. Most of the events hurt by this are usually community or charity events. The other group hit hardest are the small sports clubs. These clubs usually rely on nominal participation fees and are most often formed for the benefit of local children. With both media and politics focussing on obesity levels, particularly concerning children, this situation only highlights the inadequateness of our local, state and national authorities in not doing anything about stemming the flow of ridiculous suits.
Another option, as far as I can see, is for the government to instigate a public-funded Department of Blame, whose sole role is to take the blame for anything falling outside the brackets of personal responsibility. I envisage roaming Blame Clerks, who can be called to contentious mishaps and make on-the-spot decisions based on immediate facts. As I see it, there are only three decisions the incident can be decided against. The first is ‘No-ones Fault’, the second is ‘Individual Fault’ and the third is ‘Department of Blame’s Fault’. The only time a person can pursue a suit is if the incident is deemed the ‘Department of Blame’s Fault’.
The third and final option, in my opinion, is for someone to take the blame. For everything. Always. Sure, the first few people who sue will get something, but every one after won’t see a red cent. Hopefully, the world will forget one person is to blame and start taking their personal responsibility seriously. So with this in mind, I volunteer myself. I’ve even got my tag line prepared - “Oops, sorry, it will happen again.”