“Don’t blame the government?!”
“But why?”
“Why are you lecturing me with this ‘Don’t blame the government’ crap? Why shouldn’t I blame the government? What’s the point of a democracy if we can’t even criticize and blame the government? I mean, isn’t it the government’s responsibility to figure everything out?”
Relax.
I can understand your anger, frustration, and disappointment. Many things that should have happened in your neighborhood—and in your life in general—haven’t materialized yet. And it feels natural to assume that the government is responsible for that failure.
And yes, that realization can make anyone furious. That reaction is normal.
That anger often comes from forgetting that you are not a “common man.”
When we don’t clearly understand the root causes of our problems, we look for the largest, most visible entity to hold accountable. And since blaming people close to us—family, friends, neighbors—comes with social consequences, we often avoid doing it openly.
Blaming them can create conflict. It can invite backlash. It can even isolate us.
Blaming the government, on the other hand, feels safe.
Why Blaming the Government Is Easy in a Democracy
Blaming the system is convenient. Almost effortless.
Why?
Because the government cannot grab you by the collar. There is something called freedom of expression, and the government itself guarantees it. It knows this—and it must tolerate criticism because of it. 🙂
So over time, blaming the government for nearly everything has become a habit. We, “the common people,” criticize the system freely and often collectively.
We blame the government for:
Corruption. Unemployment. Potholes. Dry taps. Littered streets.
In fact, there is hardly anything under the sun that doesn’t eventually find its way into that list.
And here’s something interesting: most people support us when we bash the government—the councillors, the MLAs, the MPs, the chief ministers, even the prime minister.
That support feels validating.
But pause for a moment and ask yourself why that support comes so easily.
It comes because, just like us, many people are uncomfortable acknowledging their own civic responsibilities.
The real issue is not whether the government should be criticized, but whether citizens are willing to take responsibility for their role in civic life.
Don’t Blame the Government for Everything: The Role of Civic Responsibility
Here’s the uncomfortable question:
Do you realize that you also contribute to many of the problems you face in daily life?
(You didn’t see that coming, did you? 😛)
Yes, as an Indian citizen, you have rights. That is beyond debate. But rights exist alongside duties—and ignoring one while demanding the other creates imbalance.
I know this is not pleasant to hear. Truth rarely is. But stay with me for a moment.
You complain:
“The roads are filthy.”
(Who littered?)
“My city experiences horrible traffic jams.”
(Who encroached on the roads?)
“Drinking water doesn’t reach my home.”
(Who misuses the water?)
At this point, most people object.
“Okay, okay, I get it. I also have some part in this. But what about corruption? What do I have to do with that? Shouldn’t I blame the government for corruption?”
That’s a fair question.
So let’s talk about corruption.
Corruption in the Government
I agree—many politicians across governments have been corrupt. And realistically, that pattern isn’t disappearing anytime soon.
Until a fundamentally different system emerges, this is the reality we live with. We can wish it away, protest against it, or disengage from it—but pretending it doesn’t exist won’t help either.
Now that we’ve acknowledged that reality, let’s come back to the original question.
Is it reasonable to hold the government responsible every single time something goes wrong in your daily life?
Really think about that.
Is There No Hope?
Despite everything, there are non-corrupt people working sincerely for the betterment of the country.
The real question is not whether such people exist.
The question is simpler—and harder:
Are you one of them?
When was the last time you reminded yourself of your civic responsibilities instead of defaulting to blame?
If that feels unclear, a real-life example might help.
A Real-Life Example
It was March 2010.
I was delivering personality development classes to B.Tech students at Subharti University, Meerut, Uttar Pradesh. The college had allotted a staff room for visiting faculty members.
One day, while eating snacks, my fellow teachers littered the room. Before leaving, I quietly took a polybag and started collecting the waste.
“Sir, please don’t bother. The cleaning staff will take care of this,” a colleague said.
I smiled and continued. I dumped the bag in the dustbin.
What I did wasn’t heroic. It wasn’t even special. It was basic common sense.
I am free to do whatever I like as long as:
• It is legal. • It doesn’t violate others’ rights. • I am willing to clean my own mess.
What I’m about to say may irritate some people—but I’m willing to take that risk.
You expect the government to clean your mess.
Cleaner neighborhoods? Start by using dustbins.
Congestion-free roads? Keep them clear.
Clean drinking water? Don’t wash your car with potable water.
Don’t Blame the Government. Instead, Do This
Here’s the distinction most people miss:
The government and citizens operate with different kinds of power.
As a citizen, your power lies in small actions that seem insignificant but are deeply consequential:
• Throwing waste in dustbins. • Using electricity, water, and roads responsibly. • Standing in queues and respecting public order.
The government’s power lies elsewhere:
• Building infrastructure. • Enforcing laws. • Regulating systems.
It wouldn’t be fair for the government to expect you to do its job.
And it isn’t fair for you to expect the government to do yours.
You don’t expect your MLA to throw your garbage in the dustbin. That responsibility is uniquely yours.
Likewise, your role matters—not less, just differently.
A nation progresses when citizens and governments work together toward development.
So the next time you feel the urge to blame the government, pause and ask yourself:
“Have I taken care of my civic responsibilities today?”
Whose Responsibility Is It, If Not Yours?
It was 1998.
I was walking with my cousin when I noticed a public tap running. Water was flowing straight into the drain, so I turned it off.
“It’s not your responsibility,” he said.
A few meters ahead, there was another running tap.
“Oh yeah? Let’s see how many you can turn off,” he mocked.
“Public property is the public’s responsibility,” I replied. “If a tap were running in your kitchen, you’d turn it off. What’s the difference?”
He looked at me oddly.
And the irony? He later became a government teacher.
Sometimes I wonder what he teaches—civic responsibility or convenient indifference.
What Is the Government’s Greatest Responsibility—and What Is Ours?
A few days ago, I was chatting with the owner of a local grocery shop when a young man walked in, introduced himself as a surveyor, and began asking routine questions. I listened casually—until he asked something that made me pause.
“Sir, what do you feel is the government’s greatest responsibility?”
Before the shop owner could respond, I stepped in.
“Do all responsibilities belong only to the government?” I asked. “In your survey, do you also ask citizens what their responsibilities are?”
He looked slightly taken aback.
“No, sir,” he replied.
I nodded and suggested he pass that thought on to his organization. Because the question itself wasn’t wrong—but it was incomplete. And that incompleteness, I realized, is exactly how we’ve learned to think.
Why It’s Always the Government’s Fault
In my colony, drains frequently clog because polythene bags accumulate in them.
Why are polythene bags on the road?
Because people dump garbage in the streets.
I once saw someone deliberately throwing plastic into a drain.
When the monsoon arrives, roads flood, traffic stalls, and the stench becomes unbearable.
Now tell me honestly—who is responsible for that?
The government?
Or us?