What is the logical subject

Dear teachers,

(From the middle-class family perspective, much of this, understandably, looks far less like an opportunity to exercise more financial responsibility, and a good deal more like a frightening acceleration of the wholesale shift of financial risk onto their already overburdened shoulders. )


What is the logical subject of "exercise more financial responsibility", the government or the middle-class family?

Thank you very much.

[joyapple]

In addition, here does "understandably" mean "sth. can be understood, comprehensible" or "sth. seems normal and reasonable"?

Thanks a lot.

[Tdol]

The subject is 'much of this', which refers back toi something earlier in the text. I imagine that the government has made a change that will affect middle class families and this is what is being referred to.
'Understandably' means that the writer can sympathise with and understand the concerns of the families.

[joyapple]

Originally Posted by Unregistered

Dear teachers,

(much of this looks far less like an opportunity to exercise more financial responsibility, and a good deal more like a frightening acceleration of the wholesale shift of financial risk onto their already overburdened shoulders. )
.

Sorry, I think "much of this" is the subject of the sentence, but it is not the logical subject of "exerciese". A thing can't "exercise", only a person (the government or the middle class family" can "excercise". Right? Since I'm not familiar with the background knowledge. I can't figure out "who" exercise more financial responsibility. Or could you paraphrase "much of this looks far less like an opportunity to excercise more financial responsility"?

A million thanks.

[Tdol]

If the thing is a law from the government, then it will not itself exercise greater financial responsibility but, more likely, will impose on obligation on people to behave more responsibly.