Welcome From The Chief Editor

Responsibility. Accountability. Culpability.

It seems that, in today's world, the "ability" to accept any "bility" (unless it's a disability) is sadly and sorely missing.

Unlike in the time when I was growing up, along with every generation before that, no one today takes responsibility for their own actions. It's always the "blame game" where it is someone else's fault for one's failings. Didn/t get a coveted job? It was the hiring manager or HR person's fault. Didn't get that last promotion? The boss didn't "like" me. The list of excuses, as Buzz Lightyear would say, goes "to infinity and beyond," with each one twisted around and customized to relieve the "aggrieved" party of any self responsibility.

While these situations can and do happen, their frequency is far less than we're made to believe or think. Never mind that you might not have been the most qualified candidate for that coveted job. Never mind that maybe someone else showed more/better leadership potential for that promotion. It's far, far easier to blame someone else for one's failings than it is to take responsibility for those failings.

A little introspection can go a very long way in these cases. But as long as the "aggrieved" party refuses to acknowledge and accept responsibility for the "failure," there can never be any introspection. That introspection may prompt the "aggrieved" party to seek additional training or schooling to better position themselves for that next coveted job opening or promotion. Without accepting responsibility, the "blame game" continues on, ad nauseum, over and over and over again.

Related to responsibility is accountability. In fact, "responsibility" is listed as a synonym for "accountability" in the dictionary. Even though the dictionary lists them as synonymous, I see them as separate. There's not many degrees of separation, but I still view them separately. In my mind anyway, accountability means a willingness to accept the consequences of your actions. It also means that you own up to your own mistakes, shortcomings, and faults. Just as they preach in many of the 12 step programs, admitting that you have a problem is 50% of the solution.

Culpability, again in my mind, is a combination of accepting responsibility AND accountability in any given situation. You openly admit your shortcomings (or that you are in error), and you are accountable for your actions (you accept the consequences of your actions).

Look around. It's actually quite easy to see examples of people who accept responsibility, take accountability, and who admit culpability. They are the rare breeds. It's that rarity that makes it easy to single them out from the masses, who by and large, don't do any of those things. Even most of our vaulted leaders are devoid of these qualities. Some possess none of them at all.

We've made it very easy in today's society for virtually no one to take responsibility for the things that go on in their lives or for their actions. No one is held accountable, as the rest of the masses rise up and coddle the "aggrieved" with excuses for the "aggrievance." And, if you don't have both of the first two traits (most don't even have one), there can never be any culpability.

And you wonder why society has deteriorated to such a sad state?

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This month's cover commemorates the 52nd anniversary of mankind's first steps on another celestial body with astronauts Neil Armstrong and Buzz Aldrin walking on the moon, July 20, 1969. If it had happened today, I'm sure Tux would be right there to return Armstrong's salute, as he is in the cover image "enhanced" by Meemaw. Here's to hoping that mankind's return to the moon will involve Tux ... and Linux (I'm almost certain that it will!).

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Until next month, I bid you peace, happiness, serenity and prosperity.