TO what extent is the government responsible for George’s five “child- mothers” and the concomitant pressures that will inevitably flow from this reality? Some would dare to argue that it is the government’s fault, insofar as depressed communities exist with broken families and poor education systems. The other side of the argument can be found submitting that individual decision-making has nothing to do with government and govern-centric thinking is a manifestation of a form of laziness. This writer finds himself, comfortably, in the corner of the latter.

Decision-making can be regarded as a problem-solving activity with the view of yielding a solution; it is a process that can be rational or irrational. We may make some rash judgments in the heat of the moment and the outcomes may be insurmountable. Where governments have no clear policy connected to a specific social issue, there is no basis to apportion blame to the government for your condition. Perhaps an illustration of the direct connection between government and the ability or inability to choose would efficiently elucidate this point.

The case of China and its ‘one-child policy’ comes to mind. In 1978, the Government of China introduced the ‘one-child policy’ to address the economic and demographic challenges presented by China’s 1.3 billion population. To remedy this situation, there was a restriction on most couples, from urban areas, to one child. Hefty fines and penalties met those who dared to defy this policy. As a result, by 2009, the average number of births for a woman in China was only 1.8.

The aforementioned demonstrates a scenario where it is perfectly justified to blame the government for individual decision-making; there is no escaping this fact in such cases. If there is a state policy that says you must have five “child-mothers,” or you must not work, then you can blame those in authority for your plight. Barring the existence of a policy that restricts your ability to pick yourself up by your bootstraps, you really have no excuse.

The state has three key primary responsibilities: protect and provide, create an enabling environment to develop talent and to maintain the general infrastructure of an average country. It does not include solving every problem that pops up in the lives of citizens. It also does not include cleaning up poor decisions of citizens.

In conclusion, it is folly to practise the approach of blaming the government for everything and anything that goes wrong in your life; governments come and go, but the consequences of your actions will remain.