economic crisis and personal responsibility

http://www.boston.com/bostonglobe/editorial_opinion/oped/articles/2008/09/26/the_tattered_ideology_of_personal_responsibility/

wow! i usually agree fully with ellen ... but in this case i think her logic against personal responsibility is dead wrong (or i'm misreading it!).

yes, personal responsibility means we are responsible for our own futures. but it also means having to deal with it when your plans blow up - NOT expecting the government to bail you out. we can't learn personal responsibility if we get bailed out every time we screw up. accepting personal responsibility means some tough love. it means things are going to be miserable for lots of people. but just because things are very miserable for lots of people - should we really be sharing some of that misery with the folks who's personal responsibility plans have left them ok even in today's economy?

i'm very conflicted as to what should be done now (if anything). but i'm a saver who's worked hard to pay off student loans, credit cards, buy a home i can afford, and put a little money away - and now i'm expected to bail out people who spent to the sky on credit? yes, i'm a bit bitter about that. i don't mind helping those less fortunate (or who even planned poorly) - i'm involved with several charities; but i resent the fact that i'm now EXPECTED to help and make *more* sacrifices for other people who weren't willing to sacrifice to begin with.