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Crisis of Responsibility: Our Cultural Addiction to Blame and How You Can Cure It
Across the globe a “revolt” of sorts is taking place against elitism. No more will big government, big media, big banks, big bureaucracy, and big institutions hold the secret nuggets of truth and dictate our lives and fortunes. Financial markets, political punditry, and cultural leaders are all scrambling to react to the rise of the often disenfranchised. But what happens after all the bogeymen have been vanquished? What if opposing the incompetence of the European Union, the biases of the American media, the corruption of crony capitalism, the arrogance of political power brokers, and allegedly unfair global trade deals is not enough? The key to American prosperity in this new era of populism is for moral people to make responsibility matter again by renewing personal virtue and form lasting, mediating institutions that will trump the elitist bogeymen and scapegoats for generations to come. If we fail as individual Americans to address this core crisis of responsibility, we have only ourselves to blame for what happens next.
193 pages, Kindle Edition
First published February 13, 2018
44 people are currently reading
588 people want to read
About the author
David L. Bahnsen
9 books65 followersDavid L. Bahnsen, CFP®, CIMA® is the founder, Managing Partner, and Chief Investment Officer of The Bahnsen Group, a bi-coastal private wealth management boutique based in Newport Beach, CA and New York City. managing over $1.2 billion in client assets. David has been named as one of Barron’s America’s Top 1200 Advisors, as well as Forbes Top 250 Advisors and Financial Times Top 300 Advisors in America. He brought The Bahnsen Group independent through the elite boutique fiduciary, HighTower Advisors, in April 2015 after eight years as a Chairman’s Club Managing Director at Morgan Stanley and seven years as a First Vice President at UBS Financial Services. He is a frequent guest on CNBC, Fox Business, and Bloomberg and is a regular contributor to National Review and Forbes.
David serves on the Board of Directors for the National Review Institute, is vice president of the Lincoln Club of Orange County, and is a founding Trustee for Pacifica Christian High School of Orange County.
David is a disciple of Milton Friedman, a lover of Ronald Reagan, and a “National Review kind of conservative” (the only kind). His prolific writings strive to reflect an ideology of freedom principles integrated with transcendent truths. His heroes are his late father, Dr. Greg Bahnsen, and Larry Kudlow, and he proudly claims heavy ideological influence from John Calvin, Abraham Kuyper, F.A. Hayek, Winston Churchill, C.S. Lewis, William Buckley, Margaret Thatcher, George Gilder, and Father Robert Sirico.
David’s true passions include anything involving related to USC football, the financial markets, politics, and his house in the desert. His ultimate passions are his lovely wife of 16+ years, Joleen, their gorgeous and brilliant children, sons Mitchell and Graham, and daughter Sadie, and the life they’ve created together in Newport Beach, California. David spends 18-20 waking hours per day thinking about the free and virtuous society.
His first book, Crisis of Responsibility: Our Cultural Addiction to Blame and How You Can Cure It, is scheduled for a February 2018 release.
David serves on the Board of Directors for the National Review Institute, is vice president of the Lincoln Club of Orange County, and is a founding Trustee for Pacifica Christian High School of Orange County.
David is a disciple of Milton Friedman, a lover of Ronald Reagan, and a “National Review kind of conservative” (the only kind). His prolific writings strive to reflect an ideology of freedom principles integrated with transcendent truths. His heroes are his late father, Dr. Greg Bahnsen, and Larry Kudlow, and he proudly claims heavy ideological influence from John Calvin, Abraham Kuyper, F.A. Hayek, Winston Churchill, C.S. Lewis, William Buckley, Margaret Thatcher, George Gilder, and Father Robert Sirico.
David’s true passions include anything involving related to USC football, the financial markets, politics, and his house in the desert. His ultimate passions are his lovely wife of 16+ years, Joleen, their gorgeous and brilliant children, sons Mitchell and Graham, and daughter Sadie, and the life they’ve created together in Newport Beach, California. David spends 18-20 waking hours per day thinking about the free and virtuous society.
His first book, Crisis of Responsibility: Our Cultural Addiction to Blame and How You Can Cure It, is scheduled for a February 2018 release.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 40 reviews
February 19, 2018
Very good book. Much needed.
April 30, 2020
This is one of the worst books I have read in the last ten years. And I wrote a book on Donald Trump. And Brexit. I read a lot of nonsense for a living.
This book is a shocker. Firstly - and hang on to yourself - it is written by a man who ran a "wealth management" business during the Global Financial Crisis. Yes, he has done some reading and offers a view on the "crisis of responsibility."
He believed the financial crisis was a "symptom of a broader cultural crisis of responsibility." In other words, a guy who ran "wealth management" is blaming other people for their crisis of responsibility.
It gets worse.
He locates "economic envy." He is a "limited-government advocate." In other words, he is anti-statist. Because - after all - the Global Financial Crisis showed how well soft touch governance operated.
He lamented, "the disappearing able-bodied American male.” I am not joking. A direct quotation. Page 36.
But the kicker in this truly dreadful book is that he offers philosophies of education. What is the point of school? "a vehicle to teach reading, writing, arthmetic, logic, creativity, comprehension, and critical thinking." Thanks for that.
It gets worse...
Yes, “Our colleges are programming fragility, when they should be programming the opposite. Fragility is the enemy of a good life.” Yes, the word "snowflake" is used.
One of the consequences of a post-expertise culture is a "wealth manager" has become an expert on higher education.
No he is not. Don't read it. I took one for the team, here. You don't have to.
This book is a shocker. Firstly - and hang on to yourself - it is written by a man who ran a "wealth management" business during the Global Financial Crisis. Yes, he has done some reading and offers a view on the "crisis of responsibility."
He believed the financial crisis was a "symptom of a broader cultural crisis of responsibility." In other words, a guy who ran "wealth management" is blaming other people for their crisis of responsibility.
It gets worse.
He locates "economic envy." He is a "limited-government advocate." In other words, he is anti-statist. Because - after all - the Global Financial Crisis showed how well soft touch governance operated.
He lamented, "the disappearing able-bodied American male.” I am not joking. A direct quotation. Page 36.
But the kicker in this truly dreadful book is that he offers philosophies of education. What is the point of school? "a vehicle to teach reading, writing, arthmetic, logic, creativity, comprehension, and critical thinking." Thanks for that.
It gets worse...
Yes, “Our colleges are programming fragility, when they should be programming the opposite. Fragility is the enemy of a good life.” Yes, the word "snowflake" is used.
One of the consequences of a post-expertise culture is a "wealth manager" has become an expert on higher education.
No he is not. Don't read it. I took one for the team, here. You don't have to.
July 27, 2019
Very good book, would recommend
March 13, 2018
The thesis of this book is really timely and needed.
I especially appreciate that Bahnsen gives a bipartisan treatment of this topic, pointing the finger at every one of us for our propensity to point ours somewhere else.
If you want to make the world a better place, take a look at yourself and make a change... hoo 😀
I especially appreciate that Bahnsen gives a bipartisan treatment of this topic, pointing the finger at every one of us for our propensity to point ours somewhere else.
If you want to make the world a better place, take a look at yourself and make a change... hoo 😀
April 15, 2018
As I did agree and found interesting part of this book, such as people’s need to take more responsibility, stop blaming others, financial planning and the need to promote and exemplify truth and ethics; I did find some flaws in his ideas and opinions. Here are three examples, 1) His chapter on crony corporations began with a quote from Charles Koch saying they is too much government in business. Charles is the poster child for crony corporation and dark money influencing politics. 2) He discusses a whole chapter on public schools and how they are below par, but well financed. Yet he nor his children has never attended a public school. (His job is a Wealth Advisor) which leads to 3) He puts most blame for the collapse of the economy on “Main Street”. The people who walked away from their homes that they were upside down on. Saying that they were not taking responsibility for they loans they signed for. He dismisses the over leveraged banks, deceptive rating of Collateral Debt Obligations, recklessness of Credit Default Swaps and banks lax mortgage qualification policy with very little or no consequence.
January 24, 2024
Some of the men I enjoy and respect the most recommended this book for all the men at our church to read and discuss. I'm glad they did.
Bahnsen lets no one off the hook. It's an extended look in the mirror, and expects us to look from the financial angle, both the K-12 and higher education angle, the political angle, all the way down to the moral angle. Considered individually, your fault level may vary. Considered as a nation, the image is UGLY.
A great temptation for many men is not to look in the mirror but through the window. At certain moments they see themselves, and acknowledge some of the work they should be doing. But most of the time is spent looking at all the problems...*other people* have. *That* guy, *that* banker, businessman, politician, teacher, professor, immigrant, even *robot* (or owner replacing humans with automation), someone *else* is responsible for all the junk making our lives miserable.
Again, Bahnsen pokes at this irresponsible tendency. That's good.
A few things make me less confident of Bahnsen's claim that we can "cure" our cultural addition to blame.
First, the book came out in 2018. Sheesh, has a lot happened that has exposed even more of the rot. Even though Big Tech and Big Brother and Big Pharma and Behemoth U. aren't the *only* bugs in the system, they sure are BIG bugs, and they’ve all sucked a lot more blood these last five or six years.
Second, speaking of changes since publication, the Foreword was written by David French, and French has gone all footsies with many in Big Media (as full-time writer for the New York Times), those who fancy themselves the taste-makers in elitist, Christian-hating culture. I don't remember reading French in 2018, but this inclusion (and his name on the cover of the book) means Bahnsen's book will be judged by the cover.
Third, there's much less neutrality now, not that neutrality was ever really true, but it *seemed* like it, or it was easier to coast. Responsibility is not a commodity, it can't be bought, and it most definitely cannot be sold. There isn't anyone who wants to buy it! The virtue of personal responsibility has survived in name, but it is only *consistently* valued by those who believe in the name of the Lord Jesus Christ. I cannot imagine a return to a culture of responsibility without a revival brought about by a great work of the Spirit to draw men to true life by the gospel. I don't follow Bahnsen's current work, maybe he is more explicit about that now. But while this book is interesting, it's not compelling apart from a Christian conviction with Kuyperian flavor.
Should you read this? Sure, you should. There's much to learn. And also, you've got to know that it only matters because Jesus is Lord.
Bahnsen lets no one off the hook. It's an extended look in the mirror, and expects us to look from the financial angle, both the K-12 and higher education angle, the political angle, all the way down to the moral angle. Considered individually, your fault level may vary. Considered as a nation, the image is UGLY.
A great temptation for many men is not to look in the mirror but through the window. At certain moments they see themselves, and acknowledge some of the work they should be doing. But most of the time is spent looking at all the problems...*other people* have. *That* guy, *that* banker, businessman, politician, teacher, professor, immigrant, even *robot* (or owner replacing humans with automation), someone *else* is responsible for all the junk making our lives miserable.
Again, Bahnsen pokes at this irresponsible tendency. That's good.
A few things make me less confident of Bahnsen's claim that we can "cure" our cultural addition to blame.
First, the book came out in 2018. Sheesh, has a lot happened that has exposed even more of the rot. Even though Big Tech and Big Brother and Big Pharma and Behemoth U. aren't the *only* bugs in the system, they sure are BIG bugs, and they’ve all sucked a lot more blood these last five or six years.
Second, speaking of changes since publication, the Foreword was written by David French, and French has gone all footsies with many in Big Media (as full-time writer for the New York Times), those who fancy themselves the taste-makers in elitist, Christian-hating culture. I don't remember reading French in 2018, but this inclusion (and his name on the cover of the book) means Bahnsen's book will be judged by the cover.
Third, there's much less neutrality now, not that neutrality was ever really true, but it *seemed* like it, or it was easier to coast. Responsibility is not a commodity, it can't be bought, and it most definitely cannot be sold. There isn't anyone who wants to buy it! The virtue of personal responsibility has survived in name, but it is only *consistently* valued by those who believe in the name of the Lord Jesus Christ. I cannot imagine a return to a culture of responsibility without a revival brought about by a great work of the Spirit to draw men to true life by the gospel. I don't follow Bahnsen's current work, maybe he is more explicit about that now. But while this book is interesting, it's not compelling apart from a Christian conviction with Kuyperian flavor.
Should you read this? Sure, you should. There's much to learn. And also, you've got to know that it only matters because Jesus is Lord.
didn-t-finish-and-probably-won-t
March 23, 2023I can't rate this book bc I didn't finish it but after 60 pages in, I'm not sure who this book is for....I can't imagine people who don't take responsibility now read this and change their minds about their part in it all. People who understand complexity and nuance probably already know the financial crisis didn't have a single genesis. Maybe I'm missing something bc this is not my area or maybe I just expected something different from the title or maybe something in 2018 feels like a different lifetime since Covid was in-between then and now.
July 23, 2024
Coming from a Reformed Christian perspective, none of these ideas are new. Some eye opening statistics about how many young adult men are still living with their parents, but overall he’s telling people to get a job, stick with it, get a savings account, get a budget, work hard and stop taking handouts.
Good intro book to financial responsibility in crec circles. Nothing new to those of us already here.
Good intro book to financial responsibility in crec circles. Nothing new to those of us already here.
December 8, 2021
Really good lol, from unbiased perspective on America and how we got here
October 7, 2023
Crisis of Responsibility
David’s book really reads like the student you’re really incredibly proud of who has come a long, long way who still has a little bit of work to do and is only getting just a few things a little wrong. I really, really love it and I want to go into the brilliant points–many of which I didn’t think about before, and are very valid, if not difficult–and some of the issues here.
First, it’s incredible that he wrote this book. Crisis of Responsibility is really naming the problem. It truly is the case that there is a crisis of responsibility. When it isn’t bureaucracy, it’s capitalism, when it isn’t capitalism, it’s this or that nation, when it’s not this or that nation, it’s something or another. But he makes the most excellent point on page 159 that I think everybody should hear, “The people appear ready to reject a top-down societal structure, but meanwhile, our preparation for assuming the bottom-up responsibilities of self-governance is wholly inadequate.” I think this is very true. As someone who is trying to get people to take the responsibility required to reject what they supposedly hate so hard by investing in their communities, volunteering, doing their share in the household, speaking directly to people, not playing power politics but speaking the truth for the health of everyone, etc., this entirely correct.
That said, David contradicts himself at a key point. He says, “The people want a king.” I hear him; people don’t want to take responsibility. They want a leviathan. They don’t want to work. They want to punish hard workers who make them look bad, causing market failures out of pure laziness. In addition, there is a tone of sexism to it as well when he brings in Hillary Clinton, but then pretends like he’s solely rejecting her based on her establishment impotence, which is a valid criticism. But when criticism is surrounded on either end with “We want a king”, it becomes clearly implicitly the idea is “We want a male”. The problem here is that I’m people and I don’t want a male. Most of my best and most diligent students have been women. Women score highest on tests. Black women in particular are the only ones I know taking on extra responsibilities to train and nurture where other people don’t want to do it out of pure selfishness, and in those instances where I have shared the burden with them I have been exhausted, blown away by the ignorance, and blown away by the selfishness and condescension with which black men treat them. So, I’m people, and I don’t want a king, just from sheer experience and mistakes where I said, “Ok, let’s try this ‘king’ thing for the sake of inclusion” and it was bad again. I learned the hard way. He shouldn’t speak for us; he should speak for himself. He wants to be king. Well, most men do. Just don’t speak for everyone. He has a right to shoot his shot, but not by putting words in other’s mouths.
One thing I will say in defense of Hillary is it is often bureaucracies, namely the university bureaucracy, that does a great job of preventing sexism by sticking specifically to cognizable, spelled out facts. It’s only in these institutions that women really have a chance to stand out and stick out to the degree Hillary did. Otherwise they are shouted down with vague and nonspecific crap like “The people want a king”. What people? Where’s your paperwork? Where’s your graph? Etc. These vague, unbacked pronouncements are cheap tricks that are antithetical to meritocracy. So my defense of Hillary, although I think she is an issue with jealousy and ego issues in many cases, is that this was probably the only ecosystem that she could actually get noticed on her merit, and even then a lot of it was simply for annexing Bill Clinton in the beginning. That said, I think she’s tough, I think she did it, she got noticed, but she has a series of seriously sick tricks like creating dependency only to take the resources she gave away at opportune moments in a terroristic manner that I am COMPLETELY over. And many people are. Yet she still continues to use her little sick “trump” card of encouraging dependency only to weaponize it.
I think most people are over it at this point. Hillary also has a problem with expressed contempt and mocking which is the last toxic energy we need injected in the post-Trump world.
The hard part here was his contradiction. He says immigrants shouldn’t be entitled to American’s welfare system. But then he agrees America is an experiment, where people who were basically thrown away were invested out of poverty and given opportunities, the golden door. There is no pure “American” other than maybe my ancestors at Jamestown, and hey, we were indentured servants who survived only because of some good-hearted Native Americans who were probably better off leaving some of those assholes for dead. So it’s not like survival of the fittest out here; there’s welfare for foreigners from the beginning. That said, I do agree that some things are not cultural–beating your kids, sucking up to men and ignoring women, I don’t care if these things are part of your culture. Your culture’s economy is collapsing. America doesn’t have to collapse with it to keep your culture; after all, you’re here and not that. They should have some respect for the constitution that resulted in an economy far more successful than theirs and the principles from which it derived. So it’s very hard what he’s saying and my knee jerk reaction was “No! Be inclusive!” but when you begin to think about it, there is an element to truth about it.
In addition, I see him trying to scapegoat the Left a little. People are actual victims. The only people I have seen deny this are rapists who don’t want to face what they have done. They may change it to survivor, but I can easily see in the future once over-used, rapists will mock people calling them survivors saying, “A survivor from the beginning huh?” and mourning survivorhood coming from the Left. So that part I don’t agree with. Ted Bundy’s victims did nothing to deserve this insane person coming after them. In fact, they did the right thing having empathy for a guy with a broken case. It was anomalous and shouldn’t be adapted to. I’m not saying that the author condones or commits rape; I’m just saying a lot of this anti-victim rhetoric originated in rape cases, so he needs to do his history seeking on that to avoid being clumped with the villain.
Towards the above point, there are cases where there isn’t responsibility. He brushes off the 10% of people who really were cornered into subprime mortgages and screwed as “the anomaly”. Are you kidding man? If that was the unemployment rate, you’d be having a fit! If that was a tax rate you do have a fit in certain cases! 10% was a lot and had a huge impact. He kind of passes this over and he’s wrong to do so. He also says the people “who could pay didn’t”. I think from their perspective, which was probably failed by math and budgetary education, they thought they couldn't. It sounds like a rationalization for taking houses from them which again is toward the above paragraph. That said, I am sure there is a good chunk of people who could pay and definitely did the math correct knowing they could survive, and still didn’t pay because of just the size of the payment. And I agree those people really are disgusting, and really did cause the crisis to a large extent. Those are usually the same brand of people at the top, yet the people at the top are even more disgusting and don’t plan to pay not incidentally, but strategically. Now that’s gross.
Finally, he nailed it saying that envy was the problem. Envy for other people’s things so they were constantly on credit. It’s interesting that those with the biggest envy issues lack responsibility. They’re always the first to say your success has to do with external factors, and want you to basically roll over and let them win. Again, there is an element of parasitism to them and that’s real. He accurately states that people are bullied because people don't like and even can't stand people that make them feel inferior, show them they have room to improve and the only reason they don't is because they're not taking charge of their dream. I always try to learn from these people. Admiration is my go-to. I see if they're willing to teach me so I can grow while citing them duly. If not, I stop admiring them as vain and find a way to get the skills I admire. At no point do I not try to cite them, to pay them. Not citing, not paying is the mark of serious envy and narcissistic rage.
Overall I entirely agree with the main premise here. People want change, but when we say, “Hey, to have change you need to do xyz" they grumble and groan and don't want to do it. They find ways to avoid responsibility saying, “How can I prevent climate change when corporations are polluting?” If each person in that corporation said, “F no, not going to work here any more individually” it would come crashing down. But they don’t. They keep citing “the big bad institution” and don’t realize that institution is unfortunately not more than a lot of assholes shirking their responsibility.
Overall a truly and incredibly good book that names the problem which is FANTASTIC. I’m pretty leftist but I agree with this more libertarian right side of things in some cases. The only thing I don’t like is the parts where they really get it wrong, such as the cases when there was literally no responsibility on the victim’s end, and to remember 10% is not just a “small” amount of cases. That’s a lot. Don’t run them over on your crusade of responsibility. Care about them. That said, there’s a lot who claim solidarity with them when they are really quite different cases based in laziness and narcissistic rage and I have seen that firsthand.
Great job and I might add to this later.
David’s book really reads like the student you’re really incredibly proud of who has come a long, long way who still has a little bit of work to do and is only getting just a few things a little wrong. I really, really love it and I want to go into the brilliant points–many of which I didn’t think about before, and are very valid, if not difficult–and some of the issues here.
First, it’s incredible that he wrote this book. Crisis of Responsibility is really naming the problem. It truly is the case that there is a crisis of responsibility. When it isn’t bureaucracy, it’s capitalism, when it isn’t capitalism, it’s this or that nation, when it’s not this or that nation, it’s something or another. But he makes the most excellent point on page 159 that I think everybody should hear, “The people appear ready to reject a top-down societal structure, but meanwhile, our preparation for assuming the bottom-up responsibilities of self-governance is wholly inadequate.” I think this is very true. As someone who is trying to get people to take the responsibility required to reject what they supposedly hate so hard by investing in their communities, volunteering, doing their share in the household, speaking directly to people, not playing power politics but speaking the truth for the health of everyone, etc., this entirely correct.
That said, David contradicts himself at a key point. He says, “The people want a king.” I hear him; people don’t want to take responsibility. They want a leviathan. They don’t want to work. They want to punish hard workers who make them look bad, causing market failures out of pure laziness. In addition, there is a tone of sexism to it as well when he brings in Hillary Clinton, but then pretends like he’s solely rejecting her based on her establishment impotence, which is a valid criticism. But when criticism is surrounded on either end with “We want a king”, it becomes clearly implicitly the idea is “We want a male”. The problem here is that I’m people and I don’t want a male. Most of my best and most diligent students have been women. Women score highest on tests. Black women in particular are the only ones I know taking on extra responsibilities to train and nurture where other people don’t want to do it out of pure selfishness, and in those instances where I have shared the burden with them I have been exhausted, blown away by the ignorance, and blown away by the selfishness and condescension with which black men treat them. So, I’m people, and I don’t want a king, just from sheer experience and mistakes where I said, “Ok, let’s try this ‘king’ thing for the sake of inclusion” and it was bad again. I learned the hard way. He shouldn’t speak for us; he should speak for himself. He wants to be king. Well, most men do. Just don’t speak for everyone. He has a right to shoot his shot, but not by putting words in other’s mouths.
One thing I will say in defense of Hillary is it is often bureaucracies, namely the university bureaucracy, that does a great job of preventing sexism by sticking specifically to cognizable, spelled out facts. It’s only in these institutions that women really have a chance to stand out and stick out to the degree Hillary did. Otherwise they are shouted down with vague and nonspecific crap like “The people want a king”. What people? Where’s your paperwork? Where’s your graph? Etc. These vague, unbacked pronouncements are cheap tricks that are antithetical to meritocracy. So my defense of Hillary, although I think she is an issue with jealousy and ego issues in many cases, is that this was probably the only ecosystem that she could actually get noticed on her merit, and even then a lot of it was simply for annexing Bill Clinton in the beginning. That said, I think she’s tough, I think she did it, she got noticed, but she has a series of seriously sick tricks like creating dependency only to take the resources she gave away at opportune moments in a terroristic manner that I am COMPLETELY over. And many people are. Yet she still continues to use her little sick “trump” card of encouraging dependency only to weaponize it.
I think most people are over it at this point. Hillary also has a problem with expressed contempt and mocking which is the last toxic energy we need injected in the post-Trump world.
The hard part here was his contradiction. He says immigrants shouldn’t be entitled to American’s welfare system. But then he agrees America is an experiment, where people who were basically thrown away were invested out of poverty and given opportunities, the golden door. There is no pure “American” other than maybe my ancestors at Jamestown, and hey, we were indentured servants who survived only because of some good-hearted Native Americans who were probably better off leaving some of those assholes for dead. So it’s not like survival of the fittest out here; there’s welfare for foreigners from the beginning. That said, I do agree that some things are not cultural–beating your kids, sucking up to men and ignoring women, I don’t care if these things are part of your culture. Your culture’s economy is collapsing. America doesn’t have to collapse with it to keep your culture; after all, you’re here and not that. They should have some respect for the constitution that resulted in an economy far more successful than theirs and the principles from which it derived. So it’s very hard what he’s saying and my knee jerk reaction was “No! Be inclusive!” but when you begin to think about it, there is an element to truth about it.
In addition, I see him trying to scapegoat the Left a little. People are actual victims. The only people I have seen deny this are rapists who don’t want to face what they have done. They may change it to survivor, but I can easily see in the future once over-used, rapists will mock people calling them survivors saying, “A survivor from the beginning huh?” and mourning survivorhood coming from the Left. So that part I don’t agree with. Ted Bundy’s victims did nothing to deserve this insane person coming after them. In fact, they did the right thing having empathy for a guy with a broken case. It was anomalous and shouldn’t be adapted to. I’m not saying that the author condones or commits rape; I’m just saying a lot of this anti-victim rhetoric originated in rape cases, so he needs to do his history seeking on that to avoid being clumped with the villain.
Towards the above point, there are cases where there isn’t responsibility. He brushes off the 10% of people who really were cornered into subprime mortgages and screwed as “the anomaly”. Are you kidding man? If that was the unemployment rate, you’d be having a fit! If that was a tax rate you do have a fit in certain cases! 10% was a lot and had a huge impact. He kind of passes this over and he’s wrong to do so. He also says the people “who could pay didn’t”. I think from their perspective, which was probably failed by math and budgetary education, they thought they couldn't. It sounds like a rationalization for taking houses from them which again is toward the above paragraph. That said, I am sure there is a good chunk of people who could pay and definitely did the math correct knowing they could survive, and still didn’t pay because of just the size of the payment. And I agree those people really are disgusting, and really did cause the crisis to a large extent. Those are usually the same brand of people at the top, yet the people at the top are even more disgusting and don’t plan to pay not incidentally, but strategically. Now that’s gross.
Finally, he nailed it saying that envy was the problem. Envy for other people’s things so they were constantly on credit. It’s interesting that those with the biggest envy issues lack responsibility. They’re always the first to say your success has to do with external factors, and want you to basically roll over and let them win. Again, there is an element of parasitism to them and that’s real. He accurately states that people are bullied because people don't like and even can't stand people that make them feel inferior, show them they have room to improve and the only reason they don't is because they're not taking charge of their dream. I always try to learn from these people. Admiration is my go-to. I see if they're willing to teach me so I can grow while citing them duly. If not, I stop admiring them as vain and find a way to get the skills I admire. At no point do I not try to cite them, to pay them. Not citing, not paying is the mark of serious envy and narcissistic rage.
Overall I entirely agree with the main premise here. People want change, but when we say, “Hey, to have change you need to do xyz" they grumble and groan and don't want to do it. They find ways to avoid responsibility saying, “How can I prevent climate change when corporations are polluting?” If each person in that corporation said, “F no, not going to work here any more individually” it would come crashing down. But they don’t. They keep citing “the big bad institution” and don’t realize that institution is unfortunately not more than a lot of assholes shirking their responsibility.
Overall a truly and incredibly good book that names the problem which is FANTASTIC. I’m pretty leftist but I agree with this more libertarian right side of things in some cases. The only thing I don’t like is the parts where they really get it wrong, such as the cases when there was literally no responsibility on the victim’s end, and to remember 10% is not just a “small” amount of cases. That’s a lot. Don’t run them over on your crusade of responsibility. Care about them. That said, there’s a lot who claim solidarity with them when they are really quite different cases based in laziness and narcissistic rage and I have seen that firsthand.
Great job and I might add to this later.
January 13, 2019
This book confirms my personal observation that we are raising a generation with no responsibility.
I saw a young man for back pain a few months ago. The conversation went something like this:
Patient: I strained my back doing dead lifts.
Me: How much did you lift?
Patient: A couple hundred pounds. (I can’t remember the exact number)
Me: Wow, more than I could lift!
As I examined him and talked with him, I was turning to leave when he asked me:
Patient: Hey doc, by the way, can you give me a prescription for 800 mg ibuprofen?
Me: It’s just as cheap to get it over the counter.
Patient: I know, but my insurance pays for it if I get a prescription.
Me: Sure, anything else I can do for you? A work note?
Patient: Naw, I don’t work.
Me: How do you have insurance then?
Patient: I’m on disability.
Me: Oh. OK.
His words struck me oddly as I couldn’t see any outward signs of impairment in mind or body.
Me: What are you disabled for, if you don’t mind my asking?
Patient: I have a bad back.
As I walked back to my work station to type up his discharge instructions, I shook my head and grimaced more and more, wondering at the irony of the interaction. A young man who is dead-lifting relatively high weights from the ground up to his waist in an effort to build leg muscle is on disability for a bad back. I couldn’t help but wonder at his sheer audacity. I couldn’t believe that he would voluntarily continue to collect disability and then use the money to body build at a gym, bilking Social Security, Medicare and society in general. Maybe he isn’t cut out for hard labor, but there is SOMETHING he could be doing, rather than collecting social security.
One 50-year-old woman who, with her husband, seeks medical care through the ER several times a year, is on disability. Her and her husband spend their days fishing and surfing the internet. They panhandle to supplement their income from social security. They stand on the median with thousands of cars driving by. What is the woman’s disability? Social anxiety. I’m not sure there are many things that would be more anxiety producing than panhandling on a busy street. I’m pretty sure that the only thing she is anxious about is having to work for a living.
From the rich to the poor, at all levels of education, I see an increasingly disturbing trend that people are trying to avoid responsibility.
I saw a young man for back pain a few months ago. The conversation went something like this:
Patient: I strained my back doing dead lifts.
Me: How much did you lift?
Patient: A couple hundred pounds. (I can’t remember the exact number)
Me: Wow, more than I could lift!
As I examined him and talked with him, I was turning to leave when he asked me:
Patient: Hey doc, by the way, can you give me a prescription for 800 mg ibuprofen?
Me: It’s just as cheap to get it over the counter.
Patient: I know, but my insurance pays for it if I get a prescription.
Me: Sure, anything else I can do for you? A work note?
Patient: Naw, I don’t work.
Me: How do you have insurance then?
Patient: I’m on disability.
Me: Oh. OK.
His words struck me oddly as I couldn’t see any outward signs of impairment in mind or body.
Me: What are you disabled for, if you don’t mind my asking?
Patient: I have a bad back.
As I walked back to my work station to type up his discharge instructions, I shook my head and grimaced more and more, wondering at the irony of the interaction. A young man who is dead-lifting relatively high weights from the ground up to his waist in an effort to build leg muscle is on disability for a bad back. I couldn’t help but wonder at his sheer audacity. I couldn’t believe that he would voluntarily continue to collect disability and then use the money to body build at a gym, bilking Social Security, Medicare and society in general. Maybe he isn’t cut out for hard labor, but there is SOMETHING he could be doing, rather than collecting social security.
One 50-year-old woman who, with her husband, seeks medical care through the ER several times a year, is on disability. Her and her husband spend their days fishing and surfing the internet. They panhandle to supplement their income from social security. They stand on the median with thousands of cars driving by. What is the woman’s disability? Social anxiety. I’m not sure there are many things that would be more anxiety producing than panhandling on a busy street. I’m pretty sure that the only thing she is anxious about is having to work for a living.
From the rich to the poor, at all levels of education, I see an increasingly disturbing trend that people are trying to avoid responsibility.
June 24, 2020
So I read “post-economic crisis analysis” books before. I’ve read Peter Schiff’s “Crash Proof”. I’ve read Tom Woods’ “Meltdown.” I’ve read Bill Bonner’s “Hormegeddon” ...
... and David Bahnsen’s “Crisis of Responsibility” is an absolutely essential edition to that tradition, truly rounding out what others have said about the topic.
Mainly, Bahnsen addresses each blame shifter’s bogeyman (immigrants, NAFTA, the Federal Reserve, etc.) for causing the crisis.
He surprises even me.
He also cites work that says that change comes from the top-down and not the bottom-up, which is very challenging given that I’m a grassroots kind of guy. But I’m actually reading theologian Scot McKnight’s “Kingdom Conspiracy” and McKnight cites work that says the same. That’s God’s providence for you that I come across two books that cite the same kind of work within a month’s time or so.
An interesting conclusion from Bahnsen is that local politics is the most corrupt.
Most people probably think that the most visible form of government to all of us—the federal government—is the most corrupt. It certainly extracts the most money from its citizens. But Bahnsen says local politics—the one we probably pay attention to the least—needs fixing.
Basically, there are genuine needs in the community and if the community doesn’t get it from their local leaders they’ll go somewhere else to get it.
There have been people who have been saying for years that “national politics is hopeless” and encouraging action on the local level. But Bahnsen’s conclusion hits me differently. He adds the corruption factor to local politics which was completely surprising.
As the son of a famous theologian (the late Greg Bahnsen), David reflects his father’s sharpness of mind. He does cite scripture at times, and only at times, but you wouldn’t know this was a Christian book—if it can even be called that—until the end...kind of.
It’s not saturated with scripture but it is still worthwhile.
He’s a challenging insider to the conservative movement, and has some standard conservative positions that could have been written by Marco Rubio (like calling Islamic terrorism the “terrorism” that it is), but who cares if he takes a traditional conservative position if that position is correct.
This is definitely a book to read over and over again to inform your person politics and action.
It’ll keep you focused on the local.
... and David Bahnsen’s “Crisis of Responsibility” is an absolutely essential edition to that tradition, truly rounding out what others have said about the topic.
Mainly, Bahnsen addresses each blame shifter’s bogeyman (immigrants, NAFTA, the Federal Reserve, etc.) for causing the crisis.
He surprises even me.
He also cites work that says that change comes from the top-down and not the bottom-up, which is very challenging given that I’m a grassroots kind of guy. But I’m actually reading theologian Scot McKnight’s “Kingdom Conspiracy” and McKnight cites work that says the same. That’s God’s providence for you that I come across two books that cite the same kind of work within a month’s time or so.
An interesting conclusion from Bahnsen is that local politics is the most corrupt.
Most people probably think that the most visible form of government to all of us—the federal government—is the most corrupt. It certainly extracts the most money from its citizens. But Bahnsen says local politics—the one we probably pay attention to the least—needs fixing.
Basically, there are genuine needs in the community and if the community doesn’t get it from their local leaders they’ll go somewhere else to get it.
There have been people who have been saying for years that “national politics is hopeless” and encouraging action on the local level. But Bahnsen’s conclusion hits me differently. He adds the corruption factor to local politics which was completely surprising.
As the son of a famous theologian (the late Greg Bahnsen), David reflects his father’s sharpness of mind. He does cite scripture at times, and only at times, but you wouldn’t know this was a Christian book—if it can even be called that—until the end...kind of.
It’s not saturated with scripture but it is still worthwhile.
He’s a challenging insider to the conservative movement, and has some standard conservative positions that could have been written by Marco Rubio (like calling Islamic terrorism the “terrorism” that it is), but who cares if he takes a traditional conservative position if that position is correct.
This is definitely a book to read over and over again to inform your person politics and action.
It’ll keep you focused on the local.
July 5, 2018
Amazing book! Bahnsen examines our culture of victimization and blame and suggests ways we can improve ourselves and our country. I appreciated his look at the 2008 financial crisis (which affected us since we bought our first house in CA in 2007), and I love his emphasis on personal responsibility. Recommended for all, victim or not!
“Yet, we must recognize our cultural addiction to blame, properly understand the key issues, and forge a new culture of responsibility in which free people become virtuous people, and virtuous people become productive people.” -p. 12
“However, the narrative in this new era seems to be that too much government has done too much harm to too many people. So one can see why it is both confusing and dangerous to suggest that the antidote would be more government doing more for even more people.” -p. 23
“We cannot ignore policy prescriptions, yet...a failure to ignite re-moralization and recapture industriousness, honesty, famIly, and religion will guarantee the failure of any attempt to improve civic life.” -p. 42
“When we find our voice as a society to sing the praises of family, character, and goodness, we will find the beginning of a prescription for reversing social and economic stagnation.” -p. 44
Regarding the 2008 housing crisis: “And there was a crisis of culture that exacerbated the crisis, walking away from obligations without concern for personal integrity or collective economic impact.” -p. 64
“Our founders’ vision of ‘equal under the law’ required a level playing field in the public square and demands the right-sizing of governement. Reduce the size of the government engaged in one side of the cronyism and we’ll reduce crony capitalism.” -p. 87
“The incredible irony is that the people most vehemently opposed to choice in education also proudly and emphatically don the pro-choice brand on one particular issue: abortion. The inverse correlation between those who identify as pro-choice (on matter of abortion) and pro-school choice is stunning. But I digress.” -p. 91
“In the marketplace, no one questions the value to the consumer of choice and competition. However, when it comes to education, bizarre verbal and mental gymnastics are required to deny the value of those same basic principles.” -p. 92
“My skepticism that the American worker is being economically assaulted by immigration does not dilute my impassioned plea for a sensible national security solution for immigration, the elimination of magnetic welfare benefits for immigrants, or a return to American assimilation as fundamental to the immigration process.” -p. 108
“We have a major problem in this country is we aspire to a culture rooted in responsibility, accountability, and free and independent thinking- higher education is pouring kerosene on the fire that is our economic, moral, and and cultural crisis...The American university system now offers families the worst of both worlds- inherit insane debt and receive little preparation for adult responsibilities, while being indoctrinated with propositions that undermine the foundational values of Western civilization.” -pp. 111-12
“My agenda is to repudiate the victimhood culture at all levels, especially in the college years where it is programmed into the minds and hearts of our young people...Our colleges are programming fragility, when they should be programming the opposite. Fragility is the enemy of a good life…Meanwhile, the true traits that lead to prosperity- character development, problem solving, resilience, and mature interpersonal skills- are ignored or shunned.” -pp. 113, 118
“To help resolve our cultural crisis of responsibility and pursue a life of freedom and virtue…
--“Thoroughly repudiate defeatism and victimhood in your own life - even when you’ve actually been victimized…
--“Completely rethink your perspective on higher education...If we could fully grasp two truths, the scam that higher education has become would die: (1) a college degree doesn’t guarantee success, and (2) not having a college degree doesn’t guarantee failure…
--“Prepare your children for economic self-reliance…
--“Consider reengaging in the lost world of local politics… Strong local government always and forever limits the need for a stronger, more oppressive federal government…
--“Reject the social safety net when you can and choose the more challenging but fulfilling path of self-reliance…What I’m referencing here is the ‘stretch’ or ‘abuse’ of the safety net-... Instead of this self-corrupting behavior, I am encouraging you to take a path that produces the virtue of achievement, the satisfaction of earned success, and the empowerment that comes only from overcoming adversity…
--“Find your joy in production, not consumption… the act of production brings sustainable value and substantive internal satisfaction…
--“View and treat family as the economic building block of society…
--“Administer your own personal finances proactively, defensively, opportunistically, and prudently…
--“Be a generous, charitable giver.” -pp. 136-148
“The financial crisis revealed a horrific meatloaf of bad policy and bad actors, but it does not excuse an individual for refusing to keep personal financial commitments. Government policies and regulations have wreaked havoc on economic incentives, but they do not excuse a pitiful work ethic.” -P. 154
“The free and virtuous society I long to see- the America I believe in- is exceptional because all may pursue their inalienable rights to life, liberty, and happiness with a shared creed of faith, values and character.” -p. 158
“Yet, we must recognize our cultural addiction to blame, properly understand the key issues, and forge a new culture of responsibility in which free people become virtuous people, and virtuous people become productive people.” -p. 12
“However, the narrative in this new era seems to be that too much government has done too much harm to too many people. So one can see why it is both confusing and dangerous to suggest that the antidote would be more government doing more for even more people.” -p. 23
“We cannot ignore policy prescriptions, yet...a failure to ignite re-moralization and recapture industriousness, honesty, famIly, and religion will guarantee the failure of any attempt to improve civic life.” -p. 42
“When we find our voice as a society to sing the praises of family, character, and goodness, we will find the beginning of a prescription for reversing social and economic stagnation.” -p. 44
Regarding the 2008 housing crisis: “And there was a crisis of culture that exacerbated the crisis, walking away from obligations without concern for personal integrity or collective economic impact.” -p. 64
“Our founders’ vision of ‘equal under the law’ required a level playing field in the public square and demands the right-sizing of governement. Reduce the size of the government engaged in one side of the cronyism and we’ll reduce crony capitalism.” -p. 87
“The incredible irony is that the people most vehemently opposed to choice in education also proudly and emphatically don the pro-choice brand on one particular issue: abortion. The inverse correlation between those who identify as pro-choice (on matter of abortion) and pro-school choice is stunning. But I digress.” -p. 91
“In the marketplace, no one questions the value to the consumer of choice and competition. However, when it comes to education, bizarre verbal and mental gymnastics are required to deny the value of those same basic principles.” -p. 92
“My skepticism that the American worker is being economically assaulted by immigration does not dilute my impassioned plea for a sensible national security solution for immigration, the elimination of magnetic welfare benefits for immigrants, or a return to American assimilation as fundamental to the immigration process.” -p. 108
“We have a major problem in this country is we aspire to a culture rooted in responsibility, accountability, and free and independent thinking- higher education is pouring kerosene on the fire that is our economic, moral, and and cultural crisis...The American university system now offers families the worst of both worlds- inherit insane debt and receive little preparation for adult responsibilities, while being indoctrinated with propositions that undermine the foundational values of Western civilization.” -pp. 111-12
“My agenda is to repudiate the victimhood culture at all levels, especially in the college years where it is programmed into the minds and hearts of our young people...Our colleges are programming fragility, when they should be programming the opposite. Fragility is the enemy of a good life…Meanwhile, the true traits that lead to prosperity- character development, problem solving, resilience, and mature interpersonal skills- are ignored or shunned.” -pp. 113, 118
“To help resolve our cultural crisis of responsibility and pursue a life of freedom and virtue…
--“Thoroughly repudiate defeatism and victimhood in your own life - even when you’ve actually been victimized…
--“Completely rethink your perspective on higher education...If we could fully grasp two truths, the scam that higher education has become would die: (1) a college degree doesn’t guarantee success, and (2) not having a college degree doesn’t guarantee failure…
--“Prepare your children for economic self-reliance…
--“Consider reengaging in the lost world of local politics… Strong local government always and forever limits the need for a stronger, more oppressive federal government…
--“Reject the social safety net when you can and choose the more challenging but fulfilling path of self-reliance…What I’m referencing here is the ‘stretch’ or ‘abuse’ of the safety net-... Instead of this self-corrupting behavior, I am encouraging you to take a path that produces the virtue of achievement, the satisfaction of earned success, and the empowerment that comes only from overcoming adversity…
--“Find your joy in production, not consumption… the act of production brings sustainable value and substantive internal satisfaction…
--“View and treat family as the economic building block of society…
--“Administer your own personal finances proactively, defensively, opportunistically, and prudently…
--“Be a generous, charitable giver.” -pp. 136-148
“The financial crisis revealed a horrific meatloaf of bad policy and bad actors, but it does not excuse an individual for refusing to keep personal financial commitments. Government policies and regulations have wreaked havoc on economic incentives, but they do not excuse a pitiful work ethic.” -P. 154
“The free and virtuous society I long to see- the America I believe in- is exceptional because all may pursue their inalienable rights to life, liberty, and happiness with a shared creed of faith, values and character.” -p. 158
March 14, 2018
Everyone in America (and elsewhere) who CAN read, SHOULD read this one. Then heed what has been said about taking personal responsibility for one's one words, actions, and (consequently), one's own life. If even one person learns how to own his/her own life responsibly, the book was worth reading.
March 11, 2018
Excellent. Bahnsen shows how the roots of our present ills, whether social, economics political , lie in our failure to take responsibility for our lives.
July 3, 2018
Great! Bahnsen should be respected for dealing with the partisan issues that make up "the blame game" without simply repeating typical right-wing talking points.
October 23, 2018
A highly relevant, insightful, and thought-provoking read on the current cultural and economic state of our nation and what we can do about it. I appreciated David Bahnsen’s effort to give an overview of the many realms of our society and how our lack of individual responsibility has propelled greater government control and subsequent inefficiency. He offers not just explanations of how we arrived at this point, but also some very practical suggestions on how we can address these issues on both a micro and a macro level.
Here are some fabulous excerpts that I especially appreciated:
“Yet never has the response to adversity resulted in an extended, even unending adolescence. In fact, the historical norm has been quite the opposite. When faced with wretched economic conditions and perilous adversity, men’s character was enhanced as they embraced hard work and a rugged individualism that would be totally foreign to today’s culture.” Page 38
“What’s en vogue today is a nonjudge mental attitude about how other people live their lives. That attitude must end. The need of the hour is for thoughtful and caring people to condemn deadbeat-ism, not enable it.” Page 43
“The moral relativism of our age has created a tricky dilemma. Many people are thriving because they’re making wise decisions that lead to more fulfilled lives, but they‘re unwilling to declare wise decision making as a necessary prerequisite for the success of others. Practicing what one preaches is a long-heralded virtue; but preaching what one practices is the mandate for today.“ Page 43
“When we find our voice as a society to sing the praises of family, character, and goodness, we will find the beginning of a prescription for reversing social and economic stagnation.” Page 44
In reference to the economic collapse of 2008, “ The particular and consistent theme…that was present in each and every element of each and every guilty party, was an underlying spirit of envy. The green-eyed monster seized the opportunity created by an absence of character, the presence of the intemperate cravings, and utter disdain for the virtues of patience and thrift. No part of our culture was immune. Not Wall Street. Not K St. And, especially, not Main Street.” Page 48
“The idea of punishing companies for building products more efficiently overseas has even less merit when we consider the more systematic problem of our laborers not developing new job skills, learning new technologies, or adapting to changing market conditions.” Page 73
“Throughout history, the growth of government has been accompanied by the decline of faithful obedience.” Page 78
“The appropriate conservative policy aspiration – and moral ambition of a good civic society – is a level playing field.” Page 84
“We cannot oppose subsidies when we don’t like the company, product, or sector in question, but then change our minds when subsidies favor our friends. Likewise, the decision by an employer or a developer to build a project or invest in a community only if it receives special treatment is corrupt at its core. Local government can support the free market by not distorting it. City councils should find ways to remove impediments to growth and business for all from the regulatory framework. If they do, they will create fifty times more economic benefit than they could ever do with all the special tax breaks they could ever dream up.” Page 85
“Schooling as a vehicle to teach reading, writing, arithmetic, logic, creativity, comprehension, and critical thinking is at the cornerstone of a proper philosophy of education. Schooling as a substitute to family life, religious life, or engagement with community is an abuse of education’s intent and proper role.“ Page 92
“The American university system now offers families the worst of both worlds – inherit insane debt and receive little preparation for adult responsibilities, while being indoctrinated with propositions that undermine the foundational values of Western civilization. That’s right. One can now go broke being taught to think incorrectly.” Page 112
“Noble aims of a college-age experience should include developing marketable job skills, enhancing one’s ability to think critically, and discovering where ones real passions and aspirations lie.” Page 117
Here are some fabulous excerpts that I especially appreciated:
“Yet never has the response to adversity resulted in an extended, even unending adolescence. In fact, the historical norm has been quite the opposite. When faced with wretched economic conditions and perilous adversity, men’s character was enhanced as they embraced hard work and a rugged individualism that would be totally foreign to today’s culture.” Page 38
“What’s en vogue today is a nonjudge mental attitude about how other people live their lives. That attitude must end. The need of the hour is for thoughtful and caring people to condemn deadbeat-ism, not enable it.” Page 43
“The moral relativism of our age has created a tricky dilemma. Many people are thriving because they’re making wise decisions that lead to more fulfilled lives, but they‘re unwilling to declare wise decision making as a necessary prerequisite for the success of others. Practicing what one preaches is a long-heralded virtue; but preaching what one practices is the mandate for today.“ Page 43
“When we find our voice as a society to sing the praises of family, character, and goodness, we will find the beginning of a prescription for reversing social and economic stagnation.” Page 44
In reference to the economic collapse of 2008, “ The particular and consistent theme…that was present in each and every element of each and every guilty party, was an underlying spirit of envy. The green-eyed monster seized the opportunity created by an absence of character, the presence of the intemperate cravings, and utter disdain for the virtues of patience and thrift. No part of our culture was immune. Not Wall Street. Not K St. And, especially, not Main Street.” Page 48
“The idea of punishing companies for building products more efficiently overseas has even less merit when we consider the more systematic problem of our laborers not developing new job skills, learning new technologies, or adapting to changing market conditions.” Page 73
“Throughout history, the growth of government has been accompanied by the decline of faithful obedience.” Page 78
“The appropriate conservative policy aspiration – and moral ambition of a good civic society – is a level playing field.” Page 84
“We cannot oppose subsidies when we don’t like the company, product, or sector in question, but then change our minds when subsidies favor our friends. Likewise, the decision by an employer or a developer to build a project or invest in a community only if it receives special treatment is corrupt at its core. Local government can support the free market by not distorting it. City councils should find ways to remove impediments to growth and business for all from the regulatory framework. If they do, they will create fifty times more economic benefit than they could ever do with all the special tax breaks they could ever dream up.” Page 85
“Schooling as a vehicle to teach reading, writing, arithmetic, logic, creativity, comprehension, and critical thinking is at the cornerstone of a proper philosophy of education. Schooling as a substitute to family life, religious life, or engagement with community is an abuse of education’s intent and proper role.“ Page 92
“The American university system now offers families the worst of both worlds – inherit insane debt and receive little preparation for adult responsibilities, while being indoctrinated with propositions that undermine the foundational values of Western civilization. That’s right. One can now go broke being taught to think incorrectly.” Page 112
“Noble aims of a college-age experience should include developing marketable job skills, enhancing one’s ability to think critically, and discovering where ones real passions and aspirations lie.” Page 117
March 25, 2018
It is my distinct privilege to recommend David L. Bahnsen’s “Crisis of Responsibility, Our Cultural Additional to Blame and How You Can Cure It” to all readers aged fifteen to ninety-five. I say it is my privilege to offer this recommendation for two reasons. First, I consider myself blessed to live in a country where I am at liberty to choose the various materials with which I will fill my mind; the types of material from which, it logically follows, my attitudes and actions will be shaped. Second, I consider myself fortunate to have become acquainted with the book’s author through his various writings on economic policy and investment analysis, as well as his quirky posts about his lovely wife and children on social media. Because he made me laugh and think on a more critical level, I invested in his book. I am more than pleased to share my great pleasure at having made this small investment. I am convinced each reader will receive the same positive return as did I. [I Samuel 8]
Very infrequently do I find a modern author so willing and able to piece together the issues which have not only shaped our present situation but which will continue to drag us in the negative direction if we do not take a personal stand. An author so willing to put it on the line, in the common vernacular, by offering specific steps that any person may choose to implement. I have found this in David Bahnsen’s “Crisis of Responsibility, Our Cultural Additional to Blame and How You Can Cure It.” I believe Mr. Bahnsen has written this book with an eye toward solutions rather than fostering the endless, personally and culturally toxic, perpetual cycle “it’s not my fault.” He understands how we arrived here, as is evidenced by his meticulous and thoughtful internal quotes and endnote references. He understands how we might rebuild and, with the spirit of a truly humble servant, offers a plan of recovery from our collective addiction to blame. I also believe he has consciously chosen to write this book in a manner easily understood by the novice and expert alike. He takes on often difficult to understand topics like why economic resources naturally seek efficiency in distribution, immigration, and free trade with the skill of an expert. He then presents these daily issues in a manner that is clear, concise, and respectful of readers at every level. Throughout its’ pages, I discovered gems of wisdom and leadership. For all who seek to end the “false narrative,” this book is for you.
Very infrequently do I find a modern author so willing and able to piece together the issues which have not only shaped our present situation but which will continue to drag us in the negative direction if we do not take a personal stand. An author so willing to put it on the line, in the common vernacular, by offering specific steps that any person may choose to implement. I have found this in David Bahnsen’s “Crisis of Responsibility, Our Cultural Additional to Blame and How You Can Cure It.” I believe Mr. Bahnsen has written this book with an eye toward solutions rather than fostering the endless, personally and culturally toxic, perpetual cycle “it’s not my fault.” He understands how we arrived here, as is evidenced by his meticulous and thoughtful internal quotes and endnote references. He understands how we might rebuild and, with the spirit of a truly humble servant, offers a plan of recovery from our collective addiction to blame. I also believe he has consciously chosen to write this book in a manner easily understood by the novice and expert alike. He takes on often difficult to understand topics like why economic resources naturally seek efficiency in distribution, immigration, and free trade with the skill of an expert. He then presents these daily issues in a manner that is clear, concise, and respectful of readers at every level. Throughout its’ pages, I discovered gems of wisdom and leadership. For all who seek to end the “false narrative,” this book is for you.
October 18, 2018
After the 2008 housing crisis, David Bahnsen got really tired of people blaming Wall Street or Uncle Sam solely for the crisis. What about all the people who "strategically" defaulted on their mortgages even though they could afford to pay them? Wasn't that just as immoral as anything the government or the banks were accused of? And wasn't it far more prevalent? Yes and yes.
In this spirit of forcing people to take responsibility for the world around them, Bahnsen takes a quick trip around several topics of interest. He begins by noting how everyone blames someone else for whatever befalls them--Washington, NAFTA, China, the media, you name it. Then Bahnsen moves chapter by chapter to these areas of blame. Are free trade and automation to blame for your inability to get a job? No. What about bad schools? Can we do something about them? What about crony capitalism? Can big government be shrunk? Can higher education be rethought in a way that gets more people the training and jobs they need? What about open borders? How can we preserve patriotism and national identity while still welcoming immigrants?
Clearly this could have been many books, not just one, as most chapters are only about 10 pages long. But Bahnsen said hard things that need to be said without ever being nasty, pessimistic, close-minded, bigoted, or anything else. He is an irenic model to emulate, and I hope we see more of his writing (he's actually a wealth management adviser by trade) in the near future. And if his name sounds familiar, yes, his father was the theonomist of OPC fame 30-40 years ago. Bahnsen has maintained his father's strong faith without some of the other peculiarities of Greg's views. Great stuff here.
In this spirit of forcing people to take responsibility for the world around them, Bahnsen takes a quick trip around several topics of interest. He begins by noting how everyone blames someone else for whatever befalls them--Washington, NAFTA, China, the media, you name it. Then Bahnsen moves chapter by chapter to these areas of blame. Are free trade and automation to blame for your inability to get a job? No. What about bad schools? Can we do something about them? What about crony capitalism? Can big government be shrunk? Can higher education be rethought in a way that gets more people the training and jobs they need? What about open borders? How can we preserve patriotism and national identity while still welcoming immigrants?
Clearly this could have been many books, not just one, as most chapters are only about 10 pages long. But Bahnsen said hard things that need to be said without ever being nasty, pessimistic, close-minded, bigoted, or anything else. He is an irenic model to emulate, and I hope we see more of his writing (he's actually a wealth management adviser by trade) in the near future. And if his name sounds familiar, yes, his father was the theonomist of OPC fame 30-40 years ago. Bahnsen has maintained his father's strong faith without some of the other peculiarities of Greg's views. Great stuff here.
September 7, 2024
This book was out the ordinary for me to read. I needed something out of my regular feed of intake and I was so glad that I dove in. Bahnsen is easy to read, but he's smart, so you have to keep track of his trains of thought. I am personally uneducated in much about politics, so a lot this was somewhat new to me. I found myself saying, "oh yeah, that totally makes sense, I love that..." Then could not repeat what he said after moving onto even a few chapters beyond. I will need to revisit his arguments and compare them to opposing views. However, he does a great job at laying out what opposing views say and carefully nuancing his position with thoughtful respect to others.
This book has raised my political and social antenni to be a responsible citizen for this great nation, and to raise grateful and responsible children to work hard, take responsibility, and to work and pray toward change in our homes, communities, and country.
(P.s. Greg Bahnsen, David's father who died of heart failure far, far too early in life, was one of my husband's and my favorite apologists! His lectures and debates have been the grounding for a majority of my philosophical and theology thinking. It's awesome to see how far his son has gone, albeit in a different field of study. Look him up).
This book has raised my political and social antenni to be a responsible citizen for this great nation, and to raise grateful and responsible children to work hard, take responsibility, and to work and pray toward change in our homes, communities, and country.
(P.s. Greg Bahnsen, David's father who died of heart failure far, far too early in life, was one of my husband's and my favorite apologists! His lectures and debates have been the grounding for a majority of my philosophical and theology thinking. It's awesome to see how far his son has gone, albeit in a different field of study. Look him up).
July 2, 2021
This is an excellent book that hits exactly where it needs to in our cultural moment. Everyone has someone or something to blame for what seems like is going wrong in the world. But how can each of us stand up and take responsibility for our own communities, our own families, and our own lives? Bahnsen cuts through both the left-wing and right-wing narratives that someone out there is entirely to blame for our problems. There is plenty of guilt to go around, but it starts in the mirror. I found myself wanting to go deeper on a lot of the topics addressed, but for its purpose, this book is very effective in making its argument brief, clear, and accessible. “Because I genuinely love those most disenfranchised and disaffected in our society, I cannot pretend that all the pain is someone else’s fault” (158).
December 18, 2018
I'd probably choose 4.5 stars if I could, but I couldn't bring myself to give it 4 stars.
It's a really simple but very well-documented insight - that at the heart of most problems plaguing American politics, you'll find false bogeymen who are blamed instead of people taking responsibility for what they can fix.
As I say, this isn't very surprising, but the evidence for it is brilliantly put together. The explanation of the financial crisis was extremely eye-opening for me, as was some of the detail on education.
I really wish that there were a UK edition as although these insights are extremely relevant here, this book assumes more knowledge about the American government than your typical Brit has. I'd still thoroughly recommend it though to people on either side of the pond..
It's a really simple but very well-documented insight - that at the heart of most problems plaguing American politics, you'll find false bogeymen who are blamed instead of people taking responsibility for what they can fix.
As I say, this isn't very surprising, but the evidence for it is brilliantly put together. The explanation of the financial crisis was extremely eye-opening for me, as was some of the detail on education.
I really wish that there were a UK edition as although these insights are extremely relevant here, this book assumes more knowledge about the American government than your typical Brit has. I'd still thoroughly recommend it though to people on either side of the pond..
April 10, 2019
What goes on in Washington is down stream from what's happening at the local level in the cities. Main Street bears far greater responsibility than either Washington or Wall Street, and covetousness and envy in the common man's heart explains much more completely why things go wrong in our economy than does any economic theory. I think American jobs shipped overseas benefits the world, and it's an indication of a healthy free market. I think that strong families are more important to the economy than where those families came from. I don't often find authors in sympathy with views like these, but for the most part this author is.
The last two chapters contained everything worth reading in this book.
The last two chapters contained everything worth reading in this book.
July 15, 2020
This book, while full of thought provoking and tough claims about the average American during a social crisis of responsibility, Bahnsen often stepped outside of his scope and floundered in a very narrow view of many aspects of public life. What could have been intriguing and well written dialogue about the financial world after the 2008 meltdown was meddled with preachy, narrow opinions on major sectors of America. While I took the book at face value and learned about how to take responsibility in my own life, I shook my head and the sometimes ignorant views.
March 22, 2018
While very short (105 pages) this is a very necessary book for anyone wondering how to move American (and Anglophone) culture out of this current cul de sac where we can't move forward for being someone's victim and someone else's perpetrator. I am heartened to see so many books on this theme and I hope that they will catch on. We are at a cultural turning point where those of us who know "there has to be a better way than this..." have reached a point where we figure we have nothing left to lose.
If I have any criticism it is that the book is *too* short by probably 50 - 100 pages.
If I have any criticism it is that the book is *too* short by probably 50 - 100 pages.
May 8, 2018
Every INDIVIDUAL should read
Thought provoking and a bit angering. Hansen has synthesized a slew of circumstances and found a common link ignored by almost all...our responsibility to impact our own lives and to assist others in times of need without the involvement of a larger government. I'm going to recommend this to my children in hopes they can impact the changes necessary to overcome our deep victimization mentality.
Thought provoking and a bit angering. Hansen has synthesized a slew of circumstances and found a common link ignored by almost all...our responsibility to impact our own lives and to assist others in times of need without the involvement of a larger government. I'm going to recommend this to my children in hopes they can impact the changes necessary to overcome our deep victimization mentality.
June 10, 2018
Great stuff about the defining issue of our time. Do we want to be a culture that embraces victimhood and place blame, or do we want to be a culture that takes ownership, learns, and loves problems? Bahnsen points out that since Adam as, "What about the other guy (gal)?" when confronted with his culpability, people have been inclined to complain and place blame rather than solve problems. Bahnsen's 10 point plan is a good starting point towards healing this tendency.
July 29, 2024
This book suggests that individuals as well as government and business have been irresponsible as a whole. He calls all Americans, especially Christians to take responsibility in our lives financially and otherwise and don’t give into excuses or blame. I agree with this, but since this book was written it was before the Covid Crisis. The excesses of governments in lockdowns, masks and mandatory vaccines as well as out of control spending makes the book’s arguments less potent.
April 10, 2019
Great insight into the recession of 2008 and our inability to learn from it. This book helped me see some of my avoidance of responsibility, and helped me recognize what a plague this is on our society. The only way to fix our society is if we each look at ourselves and try to do our part, we cannot shirk our responsibility. It is not worth losing our freedoms, in order to be taken care of.
December 6, 2018
A timely book.
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