Buổi 5: Writing Task 2 – Discussion: trách nhiệm cá nhân hay trách nhiệm của hệ thống? Lập trường rõ trong bài “discuss both views”

Problems such as poor diet and unmanageable debt are often discussed as failures of individual self-control. While I accept that people must take some responsibility for their own choices, I believe that governments and businesses carry the greater share, because they shape the conditions in which those choices are made.

The case for personal responsibility is stronger than it is sometimes given credit for. Individuals know their own circumstances, preferences and limits far better than any official, and policies that treat adults as incapable of managing their lives can be both patronising and ineffective. There is also a concern about incentives: if people expect the state to rescue them from every poor decision, they may have less reason to plan carefully. This argument has real force, but it assumes that everyone faces broadly the same choices, which is rarely the case.

In reality, much of what people eat and borrow is determined by options designed by others. A family on a tight budget in a neighbourhood with few affordable food shops does not choose between healthy and unhealthy meals on equal terms, and someone offered instant credit at the checkout, with the costs explained in small print, is not making a fully informed decision. Businesses profit from these default options, which is precisely why they are unlikely to change them voluntarily. Governments, therefore, have a legitimate role in creating a level playing field – through clear labelling, limits on certain forms of lending, or support for local food provision – so that responsible choices become realistic rather than heroic.

In conclusion, although individuals cannot be excused from all responsibility, it seems to me unreasonable to blame them for outcomes that are largely structural. Personal responsibility is most meaningful when the environment makes good choices possible, and creating that environment is a task for those with the power to shape it.

Hi Lan, I wanted to flag something about how we share client files. At the moment, several of us send them as email attachments, and twice this month a file went to the wrong address. Nothing serious came of it, and there may be reasons for the current approach that I'm not aware of. Would it be worth trying a shared folder with access limited to the project team? Happy to discuss. Best, Minh