Final answer:
Civic responsibilities and government duties overlap, requiring citizen participation to ensure a well-functioning democracy. Citizens must engage in laws, taxes, and democratic processes like voting while balancing personal and civic duties. Active participation is essential for addressing societal concerns effectively.
Step-by-step explanation:
Whether citizens should pay attention to issues normally considered the duty of the government is a critical question that touches upon the essence of a functioning democracy. Although governments are tasked with addressing societal issues, citizens also play a crucial role. It is their civic responsibility to safeguard the values of the community by obeying laws, paying taxes, and participating in the democratic process, including voting and civic engagement. This dual responsibility ensures that while the government provides structure and services, the citizens provide a check and input that keep the system responsive and adaptable to their needs.
Community responsibilities also highlight the importance of individuals contributing to the greater good, by promoting cooperation, respect, and active participation. These responsibilities are fundamental to maintaining a stable and prosperous society, and thus, are not merely the concern of the government, but of every member of the community. This interplay between personal and civic duties often requires careful balancing, as exemplified in situations like jury duty, where legal obligations may conflict with personal ones.
In conclusion, while certain aspects such as access to the Internet may invoke debates regarding their allocation between governmental and individual responsibilities, the overall health of a democracy relies on the active, informed, and responsible participation of its citizens. This ensures not only the protection of civil liberties but also the direct involvement in addressing local and national concerns such as education, environment, and healthcare delivery.