Posted On: June 26, 2007, 4:18 pm CDT

Posted By: rolfneu

I'm all for personal responsibility but the expose the LA Times undertook regarding U-Haul showed numerous instances where U-Haul or its authorized dealers failed to maintain the trucks and trailers.

When brakes don't work, it doesn't matter if you loaded the trailer correctly. The consumer should have an expectation when they rent a truck or trailer that it has been maintained and that the critical elements of the vehicle are working.

I don't see any connection between a person lighting up a cigarette knowing the health hazards and someone renting a U-Haul with defective breaks, etc..

As a side note, I wonder if all the people in this country who are so hip on 'personal responsibility' ever gave thought that we've allowed the creation of corporations in order to shiled owers from 'personal responsibility'. I wonder if they ever thought that the ability to purchase insurance to pay for your own negligence also is a way to avoid 'personal responsibility'. Much of the unnecessary litigation in this country is because someone or some corporation doesn't want to accept responsibility. Insurance policies force the claimant to first establish that the other party was 'legally liable'.

Personal responsibility is something that seems to be in short supply and certainly U-Haul has tried their utmost to shirk their responsibility.