RESOLVE TO TAKE RESPONSIBILITY

With another year comes a new set of laws. Many of these laws are intended
to shape our behavior, to deter actions that, if taken, could be very
harmful to the individual and society as a whole.

Anyone who deals the club drug Ecstasy in the state of Illinois will, as of
Tuesday, face tougher penalties if caught.

Also, motorists convicted of reckless homicide will no longer be able to
use a loophole in the law to evade a lengthy license suspension.

And yet another law removes an excuse for criminal behavior - the "too
drunk defense." This was used in the case of a Quad Cities man who beat sex
abuse charges. He claimed he was too intoxicated to know it was wrong to
get into bed with a minor - his daughter's friend who was spending the
night at the house.

It wasn't his fault. It was alcohol's fault. This is a classic example of
failure to take personal responsibility, a breakdown that seems so
pervasive in a society that now has to live under yet even more new rules,
via new laws, to encourage accountability.

It would be a fine turn of events if the No. 1 New Year's resolution was,
indeed, taking more responsibility for one's actions.

Starting with the New Year's celebrations.

If someone is going to drink at a New Year's party, or any party, he or she
will be responsible enough to use a designated driver, or surrender the car
keys, rather than test the law and take someone's life. That's taking
personal responsibility.

Teens who go to New Year's parties and are offered alcohol or drugs don't
have to take them to fit in. They can make the tough choice that is sure to
be greeted by teasing from peers - take personal responsibility and refuse
the drugs and booze. Naive notion? Perhaps. But teens aren't so young that
they don't have enough intelligence and maturity to make the right choices.

Parents can take personal responsibility for encouraging their children's
own sense of personal responsibility. For example, by not doing stupid
things like allowing their children to have parties with alcohol under
their supervision, believing that somehow that will keep their children
from harm or make them more willing to make responsible choices.

Parents can take more personal responsibility by being good role models and
communicating with their children about drugs and alcohol in a firm but
honest way - and not being lenient when the situation calls for being tough.

Rather than thinking there is always going to be a way out of trouble, or
an excuse for doing wrong, it would be refreshing in the coming year to see
more of the right thing being done - the personally responsible thing being
done.

The binder of state laws, then, will cease getting thicker every year.