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Ronald Reagan and Personal Responsibility

May 08, 2017
IN HIS WORDS

Law and Order

“We must reject the idea that every time a law's broken, society is guilty rather than the lawbreaker. It is time to restore the American precept that each individual is accountable for his actions.”

- Ronald Reagan

Personal responsibility is what created the United States. Literally.

When our forefathers’ declared independence from England, they sent a signal to the world that freedom and liberty are only possible when each person is allowed to determine how to live their life.

They called these God-given rights. And with these rights come responsibilities.

We teach our children they will be held accountable for their actions. We tell them they will reap what they sow. Yet they often see lawbreakers set free, or never arrested in the first place. Many who are sent to prison commit more crimes upon their release.

This cycle repeats itself time and time again until the laws cease to be a deterrent. They become a mere nuisance to the criminals.

As President Reagan stated, it’s time to put a stop to this. Laws are laws for a reason. We need them in order to have a functioning society.

Some may disagree with a law. Fine. Seek to change it. Until then, live within the law.

When laws are not enforced, lawbreakers are in essence being told that their actions are permitted.

Laws are not the problem. Lawbreakers are the problem.

Personal responsibility is not a burden. It is a requirement for a country that was founded on the God-given rights of freedom and liberty.

To be truly free, one must be personally responsible. Take personal responsibility of your own rights, and make sure you are protecting yourself online. Discover the email privacy risks you could be falling for right now. And switch your email to Reagan.com, and be in control of your actions

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    pollywilder@reagan.com

    Thanks. Reagan knew the Constitution and lived it.

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    wriggs@reagan.com

    It would appear that responsibility is a thing of the passed and the blame game is more setting for some. Even though technology has advanced since our forefathers declared independence, for others commonsense has left the building.  I say it's time to wake up, we are not a third world country and this isn't the wild west. Nor did my brother and sisters put their lives on the line in which some gave the ultimate sacrifice so that the few could turn their backs and run like cowards and let the inmate run the prison. I will stand side by side with others to protect my God-given rights from enemy's foreign and domestic, this is my personally responsibility!!!    

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    boaters10@reagan.com

    President Reagan, and Nancy and their personal relationship with the Lord was incredible!! My wife and I will never forget Mrs. Nancy at his Funeral, and her utter grief at the end of the service at his casket. Their together love and devotion for each other every day is what she was going to truly miss….until they met again later in Heaven.
    The Lord truly gave them something special, because The Reagan's priorities were right with the Lord first above all else, and is why the Lord blessed them, and our Nation to truly have such leadership!!

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    mariposamorin@reagan.com

    Don't know if the above were Reagan's words or the "blogger"'s (whoever that may be), but they are music to my ears. Thank you!

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    harpsonthego@reagan.com

    Unfortunately, many parents in my generation have dropped the ball on forwarding this ideology and, as a result, we are facing a crisis in this country whereby we are allowing our government officials to break, and ignore, laws in our country.  This is the example we are giving our children.  We need to change this.  We need to start grandparenting our next generation to success as a society that will sustain itself.

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    marydale@reagan.com

    Thanks Gipper.

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    straydawg@reagan.com

    It seems like it's more about entitlement these days rather than responsibility. The government today is way too big and way too much in your business. Too many people rely on the government to fix their problem. I really don't see any end to it.

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    alanamarie126@reagan.com

    I love(d) you President Reagan. Your words are as true today as the day you presented them.

    Blessings to your family

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    darp@reagan.com

    President Reagan.  Patriot, Statesman,  true to his convictions, fighting for freedom, and fighting for America, his Shining City on a Hill speech, was truly a look into the character and integrity of Ronald Wilson Regan, who believed that government was not the solution, government is the problem.

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    darp@reagan.com

    My family loved President Reagan, he was the great communicator, and could talk to anyone.

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    kell1776@reagan.com

    I agree but only to a point.

    A society such as ours that has 25% of the worlds prisoners and only 4% of the worlds population is not a truly just or free society. Our unjust laws are a HUGE problem in the USA.

    One cannot take personal responsibility in a society that has too many laws enforced by biased courts, over zealous prosecutors and a run away congress.

    There are too many laws that enslave free non violent men that are living how they please due to capricious enforcement and laws enforcing one persons ideals on another. That is not true liberty.

    That is one of the prime reasons for the American revolution in the first place.  There were too many unjust asymmetrically enforced laws imprisoning individuals.

    Modern USA society often makes free men criminals.  Most of us break laws that we know of or do not know of every day.  Take for example the myriad of IRS laws about reporting income.  check.  Speeding on the highway...check.  Marijuana possession...check.  Insurance laws, employment laws, zoning laws, etc etc etc.  That is not freedom

    How about the multitude of non violent offenders in jail that are a drag on society and will be hardened instead of rehabilitated.  That is not justice. They should be freed and pay restitution instead of shut away from an non forgiving society that judges based on biased variables.

    The USA will never be truly free until we as a society change our puritanical streak of vengeance justice to one of true libertarianism and "live and let live".  That is true conservatism of the founders and true classical liberalism.

    And yet I love the USA and its freedom and liberty I enjoy.  I believe it could be a much better country if we go back to true classical liberalism and some of the ideals that Reagan espoused instead of trying to cure our problems by throwing more innocent people in prison.

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    thetumbleweedtenor@reagan.com

    Thank you for sharing this!

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    roadrunner@reagan.com

    Righteousness (includes law keeping) exalts a nation, but sin (lawlbreaking) is a reproach to any people.  We can blame the government, the judges, or the congressmen, and there's ample blame for all, but the bottom line is personal responsibility.  "Because sentence against an evil work is not executed speedily, therefore  hearts of the sons of men are fully set in them to do evil." Prov 16:10

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    robiel@reagan.com

    Such inspiration! Waiting for "The Words Of Reagan" to set alongside my Winston Churchill books. (I already have Reagan's Speeches on tape...need the DVD now!)

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    realfng@reagan.com

    If only more people would actually teach their children what they really need to know instead of letting social media do it for them.  Between that and the schools, most will have to learn life lessons the hard way.

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    Guest

    few Americans left

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    Guest

    Great.  Thanks for the good work.  Ronald's former state is suffering under the "No time for the Crime" laws.

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    Guest

    We need another Ronald Reagan now!

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    Guest

    Love the new format and blog

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    Guest

    Best day of my mom's life, a WW2 German war bride:  the day Ronald Reagan was elected president. When I met my husband-to-be in 1981 she told him she had only 3 questions for him. 1. Are you a Republican?  2. Do you like the Clintons?  3. Did you vote for Ronald Reagan? She loves America with all her heart. She lived  in a country that did not enjoy the privileges we take for granted here in the United states. My mom is still alive and will celebrate her 90 birthday June 19, 2017

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    jdoniero@reagan.com

    Love it! Many Moons ago we use to say, "The Law is the Law." The END!

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    Guest

    I totally agree with Reagan's statement. Responsibility is a virtue, lawlessness isn't. We see that in rampant increase in illegal aliens given rights in our country as citizens are asked to tow the line.  This is why the Convention of States is gaining ground. Twelve states have now passed resolutions to call for a convention to add amendments to the Constitution to bring our government back under control. One would be the lawlessness we see pervading our country on this one issue and over-reaching regulations, fiscal responsibility (there's that word again) and term limits.  I pray more states will sign on to it for I believe it is the ONLY peaceful way of changing us back to a country of responsible citizenry.

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    Guest

    Boy President Reagan said a mouthful here, and to repeat his words today I think you would get laughed right out of what ever room you were in. Right now we live in a Nation where even the government officials break some of the greatest laws know to this government bordering on if not being treason, and they get away scot free! Now what kind of a message does that send to todays younger generation? If a candidate who was running for the highest office in this nation can complain constantly, and blame everyone except herself for her loss, what does that tell the younger generation. And as far as laws, what laws? governors of states go out of their way to break laws without consequences, judges break laws without consequences, so why not the commoner of the country? And our jail systems? Come now, inmates have it better in jail than most of the lower income families do in this country. What does incarceration teach criminals except how to get away with their next crime without getting caught. It's a country club in jail, they have libraries, so that they can study up on how to defend themselves, movies on a regular basis, three square meals a day, regular laundry service, conjugal visits so they shouldn't feel like their human rights have been violated. If it was up to me I'd solve the entire aggravation with the immigrant problem crossing the boarder for work on our farms by putting the lesser offender prison population to work instead of worrying about green cards expiring and chasing after those offenders. Then if the prisoners do a decent job, maybe when they get paroled they just might be hired by the farm they worked on all summer and fall harvesting etc. Because I understand most employers are hesitant to hire criminals, but if they have a good work ethic on those farms and continue  for some time after they get out they would have references to move on. But hey I'm just an ordinary citizen who sees a problem with a solution. But it's not until we start doing away with criminals in D.C that anything is going to change for the better in this country.

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    Guest

    I agree in principle, yet, recent laws infringe on our constitutionally granted freedoms. These laws must be and cannot be adhered to.
    Be a part of the 3%!

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    Guest

    I agree in principle, yet, recent laws infringe on our constitutionally granted freedoms. These laws must be and cannot be adhered to.
    Be a part of the 3%!

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    Guest

    You are completely on track.  The left thinks "the devil made it do it" is a get out of jail free card.  It was funny when we heard a comedian say it, and it was funny because the hearers new it was baloney.  We have free will "to do or not to do."    Sara in San Diego

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    Guest

    I agree with these comments and feel that lawbreakers should have stricter punishments. They should be accountable for their actions and not blame shift to others and society.

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    Guest

    We grew up w responsibilities, passed on to our children, subsequently to our grandchildren. As I reflect, these young ppl have been handed a world so vastly different than the 50's; however, they have a resilience that they will handle 'what comes' because they don't need someone to give them controls to know the difference between right and wrong. Doing wrong built their character and not making the same mistake twice made adults. So proud of many young ppl that I know and they won't loose this country...they are Reagan Babies.

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    Guest

    Amen and Amen !  Nuff said by a truly brilliant statesman.

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    Guest

    This is very true in our society today.  Truer words were never spoken.

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    DELETED_drheidibach@reagan.com

    Best excerpt: As President Reagan stated, it’s time to put a stop to this. Laws are laws for a reason. We need them in order to have a functioning society.
    Some may disagree with a law. Fine. Seek to change it. Until then, live within the law.
    When laws are not enforced, lawbreakers are in essence being told that their actions are permitted.
    Laws are not the problem. Lawbreakers are the problem." (Remember Benghazi. Remember Ferguson.Remember Mobley's bad in Baltimore. Remember DiBlasio's bad in NYC: DNCn= anarchists).

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    Guest

    May I put this in an email to my list?

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    Guest

    Somehow we have forgot what we have taught our children.

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    Guest


    Does "Living within the law." mean accepting the consequences of violating it?  I'm thinking of instances of civil disobedience like the bus strikes in the south during the 60s.  I'm not referring to protests, but actual violations of the segregation laws.  The Loving case also comes to mind.

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    Guest

    What a difference.  A president that respected and admired this country as opposed to the foreigner that was in office prior to President Trump.  That foreigner bowed before the ruler of inferior nations and stated publicly that he did not give a damn what the constitution said. As he had sworn to uphold that sacred document, he should have been impeached, removed from office and banned from this country.

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    Guest

    This is sooo true!!!

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    Guest

    Reagan was a great statesman.  He loved the Constitution and the way it laid out the plan for America, and the way it should be run.  But with Antifa and Black Lives Matter, things have got to go back to the way Reagan saw it.  "...reject the idea that everytime a law is broken it is societies fault and not the lawbreakers.  If a law is broken, it is the person who broke the law's fault.....not society.  The liberal left has done everything they can to change the wording and the meanings of the words.  This has to stop before this nation is destroyed.

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    Guest

    Amen, Amen, Amen!!!

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    Guest

    If we need another Lincoln, Garfield, or Reagan, look to the churches of the Restoration Movement first. Each was closely associated with it in some way.

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    MISTYMEADOW@reagan.com

    Fantastic. Now how do we get Democrats follow these ideals???

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    Guest

    I was prouder than words could describe to have Mr. Reagan as my President, and even prouder to serve under him for 4 years.  I had a great feeling of security, and safety while that man was in office.  I haven't felt that a single day since hes' been gone.  RIP Gipper!

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    Guest

    Probably the best time of my life was to this date was during the time of Ronald Reagan's presidency. Let's all pray for his virtues and ideologies to be an inspiration for president Trump to follow.  

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    Guest

    I've been a member of 'reagan.com for years. This is the 1st time I read about his believe in 'personal responsibility' Not because I didn't care to read, but too busy getting Mail from my box.  He says people who break the law, and allowed to get away with it. Children see this, and become lawless themselves.  Why is Hillary Clinton and many other Democrats allowed to get away with lawlessness and the American media doesn't bring her or the other crooks to task????  Ronald Regan made a lot of sense, but it would appear since President Kennedy's murder that tyrants & tyranny against the USA citizen is allowed????

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    Guest

    President Reagan is my most admired president. The first time I saw his picture was from LOOK magazine cover when he was running for Governor of California.  I was in India.  In 1973 I migrated to USA and my very first vote after getting my citizenship in 1979 was for for Ronald Reagan and I had no doubt that he would win big.
    Andrew J. Mathews

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    Guest

    Liberals ALWAY excuse themselves from obeying societies laws.  They LOVE laws - but exempt themselves.  And virtually NONE is a patriot.  They are the detritus of society without values but LOTS of arrogance.

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    Guest

    Some of our young people believe that they do not need to be held accountable for their actions. Some parents are quick to give excuses for their child's behavior.

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    Guest

    I believe that the current state of our country is depressed because of the assault that has been ongoing since President Trump was elected. To me he is the greatest thing that could have happened to this country at this time in history. The media, mules and the left have committed to obstruction and to impeach a sitting president that has done nothing wrong. From Russian collusion ( which happened in the last administration) to ballot box fraud, that will go without being investigated, to outright lies, they will not stop until the world's greatest nation is destroyed. This includes out right lies by politicians and the media. We have to continue to not accept this. Write letters to the editor in your local newspaper, write, email, or call your politicians. Support conservative organizations. Yes it does take money. But keep yourself informed by doing your own research. Could you imagine if Ronald Reagan and Donald Trump had been a team? Wow!!

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    Guest

    But is this Libertarianism that Reagan evokes true? Is each individual really responsible, not just for his actions before the law, but also for who he is? For his basic character and inclinations? Even those with conservative inclinations do not really believe this. Consider this social media comment, typical of many conservatives after any sort of social unrest: “What about the parents assuming responsibility for the bad behavior of their children? They should apologize to the city and to the police for their bad parenting.” Indeed, what about the parents? One’s parents ARE responsible, at least to some extent, for the character and inclinations of their children. Indeed, other parts of ‘society’ are also responsible for molding our children: our schools, our churches, our families, our communities, our friends, our medical institutions, our shared economic infrastructure, our laws, etc, etc. No reasonable person has ever actually claimed that these segments of society should be held legally responsible for an individual’s legal transgressions, despite Reagan’s rhetoric. Nonetheless, it is hard to see how ‘society’, taken to include the general environment in which we are raised, is not, at least to some extent, responsible for our character. (For that matter, so is genetics). Recognizing that fact does NOT excuse an individual of his legal or moral responsibility.

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    Guest

    “We must reject the idea that every time a law's broken, society is guilty rather than the lawbreaker. It is time to restore the American precept that each individual is accountable for his actions.”

    Trump's recent actions are completely contrary to Reagan's words as well as the Constitution. The ban on bump stocks and his infamous statement that "we should take the guns without due process" put him on my ban list. I no longer support the man. I'm hoping that a truly pro-gun candidate with lots of charisma will come out of the woodwork and win the upcoming Republican primary.  I won't vote for Trump for any reason at this point.

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    Guest

    I am so very proud of President Ronald Reagan. I remember it well because I was graduated from West Point in 1961 and followed several failures before the best ever cam along for 8 years including a 49 state sweep for his second term

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