I am still thinking a lot about personal responsibility.  I am stickler for this as it is, because I truly believe in personal responsibility no matter if it is for your own actions or your own reactions.  However, a lot of this seems to be lost on our kids.  I work a part-time retail job to help with finances as I finish college and I see the amazing difference between the majority or adults and the majority of kids.  It never fails to amaze me how many kids think they need a plastic sack no matter if they have a couple candies or a bottle of soda.  To the point that they get obviously irritated if you dont automatically give them a sack. 

On the surface this seems like its not a big deal.  Maybe they are walking or on their bike.  Maybe they dont have pockets to put their candy in or whatever.  But recently I have been noticing how many adults (usually the ones I dont see with the kids on a normal basis) do not want a sack for the purchases and how aggravated  the kids seem to get over it.  Of course the adult steps back and the kid gets the sack.  Now this particular example could be an illustration of the obvious issue we have where the kid has more to say than the parent does, but truly why miss the educational environmental lesson opportunity? 

What are we as a whole missing in the education of our children on environmental issues?  I realize my example is that of a plastic sack and when I say that it example happens several times a shift it is completely literal.  But I also think back to when pop was a special occasion and to our children they have typically 1-4 minimum a day plus how many waters a day.  The norm is now the plastic bottles to package and sell.  This is a generation who has grown up on going out to eat (complete with all of the take out boxes and throw away drink cups). 



How do we revert to get rid of the wastefulness that we now see as the norm when we have been sold and participate in a throw away society?  How should our education change for our children to fully understand that everyone's actions have consequences and there are responsibilities that need to be followed through on.