FOR a nation that faced two world wars, swine flu and recession we Brits  are surprisingly wimpy when it comes to taking responsibility for our own lives.
No “accident” is allowed to happen without someone being blamed. Alcohol and drugs are often cited as “mitigating circumstances” by individuals involved in court cases. Yet no-one held their head back and poured booze down their throats or gave them pills unwittingly.
Now, in a landmark case, the wife of a super-rich Arab politician is suing the Piccadilly casino for “taking advantage of her gambling addiction” insisting that “No-one (at the casino) ever told me to stop or think about my gambling.”
All of this prompts the thought: whatever happened to free-will? As mature people, most of us are capable of making our own decisions in life. If we drink too much, take drugs or over-eat, it’s a choice we consciously make – however much we might like to blame our background, parents or whatever.
It’s ridiculous that, in a spate of recent cases, individuals have stolen from their employers and come up with a rash of explanations to excuse their behaviour. Face it, they decided to take the money and spend it on whatever they wanted but don’t want to pay the price. Unfortunately, the courts sometimes seem to be taken in by ridiculous excuses and hand out lighter sentences.
The best thing we can ever teach our children is that they are responsible for their own actions. If they slap or bite someone – Luis Suarez take note – there are consequences to be faced, punishment. Without those consequences, no-one ever learns right from wrong.
I’m sure it’s the same problem that affects the way patients pressure GPs into giving them antibiotics even when they’re not appropriate. They’re  seen as a quick fix for every ailment, when often what’s needed is self-medication, self-care and patience.
Those who are successful in life learn early that their destiny is in their own hands. If they want to change their lives, it’s up to them and many  reach the top of their profession by this route.
They didn’t bother with excuses along the way, and they didn’t expect others to be responsible for them. And if more people behaved like this, our Health Service wouldn’t be in such crippling debt and our courts wouldn’t be clogged with the selfish and irresponsible.