The cost of being responsible

An interesting thought occurred to me the other day. What if we put a price tag on every act and function that we do in our daily lives. The associated cost for such acts or functions, then are totaled and we are each assessed a user fee/tax for each day. Point being, if it something that occurs routinely in our daily lives, then the fee would not be as much as that act or function that only comes around every once in a while.

To take the concept one step further, what it the fee/tax was used as a deterrent to illegal/stupid acts that ultimately cost more to others than those who actually participate in the acts.

Case in point:

Stepdaughter is an idiot. I have said it before and I will say it again. Currently, she is in the off stages of a relationship with SH1 but it appears to be rapidly returning to the on stage. L and I have talked to her repeatedly this past week about the need for her to pull her head out, make some decisions, stick with them, and forget the past. She repeatedly tells us that she is and she isn't going back to SH1 and that they are only doing things together for the sake of little bastard. But, both of them are too stupid to acknowledge that, their being together for the sake of LB is doing more harm than good and he is under the impression that they are one big happy family.

So, if stepdaugther and SH1 were each assessed a fee for every time they went back on their promise not to see each other, or not to fight in front of LB, or every time they got fired from a job, or every time they got drunk and acted ignorant to one another, would that deter them from doing it again? Likely not, since neither one of them pays their bills now and do not have a pot to piss in other than unemployment and state assistance.

2nd case in point:

My daughters soccer coach from last year kept her CYC card in anticipation of the team being back together again this year and him not having to round up the cards again for league registration. Good idea. Man was thinking ahead and trying to minimize his troubles while being efficient. But wait, he decided to not coach this year for whatever reason and the new coach is now trying to round up cards from some of the girls from last years team. If the coach doesn't get them by next week, from the previous coach. Then the Ex and I have to fork out money to get a new card for my daughter. The question here is: Should last years coach be assessed the cost of getting new cards for my daughter and the other girls on the team, if he can not provide the cards from last year? My answer is yes.

Why should I be out money for something that he caused. Granted it is only a few dollars, but my time is worth something too. Had he given the cards back at the end of the season, or even when he decided not to coach again, then all would be right with the world. But due to his lack of preparedness or poor planning/being a scatter-brained twit, I am out money and time to undo his mistake.

Ultimately, if everyone is held accountable, they generally learn a lesson and in most cases, don't make the same mistake again. Unfortunately, in today's society, with all the "whats in it for me" generation, there seems to be a huge disconnect between taking responsibility for your actions and assessing the cost of those actions.

Food for thought.....Comments are welcome.