Pushing the envelope even further

Want to think even more. Take a look at these two diverging points of view, and then think where you lie in this spectrum of responsibility.

"The idea of individual responsibility has been submerged in individual rights or demands to be guaranteed by government and delivered by public and private institutions. The cost of sloth, gluttony, alcoholic intemperance, reckless driving, sexual frenzy and smoking is now a national and not an individual responsibility. This is justified as individual freedom--[but] freedom in health is another man's shackle in taxes and insurance premiums. I believe the idea of a "right" to health [ought to be replaced by an] obligation to preserve one's health--a public duty if you will."

-John Knowles, physician and Rockefeller Foundation President, from his essay "the Responsibility of the Individual"

vs.

"The only purpose for which power can be rightfully exercised over any member of the civilized community, against his will, is to prevent harm to others. His own good, either physical or moral, is not sufficient warrant. He cannot rightfully be compelled to do or forbear because it will be better for him to do so, because it will make him happier, because in the opinion of others to do so would be wise or even right. These are good reasons for remonstrating with him or reasoning with him or persuading him or entreating him [but not for] compelling or visiting him with any evil in case he do otherwise. To justify that, the conduct from which it is desired to deter him must be calculated to produce evil to someone else. The only part of the conduct of anyone, for which he is amenable to society, is that which concerns others. In the part which merely concerns himself, his independence is, of right, absolute. Over himself, over its own body and mind, the individual is sovereign."

-John Stuart Mill's essay "On Liberty"