Individual responsibility versus "privilege "

Individual responsibility versus privilege  

I listened to “The Daily” (NYT) podcast about hurricane Ida.  My heart goes out to the millions of people who are suffering and at risk due to the lack of air conditioning when it’s extremely hot and humid down there, lack of water, lack of food, and lack of gas. 

However, there were two aspects that bothered me. 

The first was the speaker’s us of the word “privileged” when comparing those who lived in areas or that had more resources that were better able to deal with the horrible conditions. Priviledge is defined as, “a special right, advantage, or immunity granted or available only to a particular person or group.” 

I know of nothing in the US that prevents anyone from working harder, longer, smarter to better their position, other than any inherent limitations a individual has. I find it particularly unfair, and a threat to our country, when people claim that disparities in outcomes is primarily due to some undefined and unclear “privilege” rather than effort, self reliance, individual responsibility, and environment during developmental years.

The second point is that I can’t help but wonder how the New York Times along with the rest of the main stream media would be talking about the role of the government and the failure of the government to immediately resolve the problems and issues millions of people are suffering right now if there was a Republican president.  Note this is not a criticism of Biden or the governments response. It is a criticism of the NYT’s and main stream media’s  and complete hypocrisy.