There is a movement underfoot in America. It began decades ago and has been inching its way into our national psyche and it is compromising and destroying our pioneer spirit. We see the tenets of this movement most pointedly in this election cycle, touted by the candidates running for President and our leaders in Congress. It is the idea that the group – the nation, the community, the proletariat, the race, etc. – is the primary unit of reality and the ultimate standard of value. This philosophy, and it is a bastardized form of philosophy, holds that the needs and goals of the individual are subordinate to those of the larger group and should be sacrificed when the collective good so requires. Achievement is the product of society. Hillary Clinton calls for “a consensus of values and a common vision of what we can do today, individually and collectively, to build strong families and communities.” The needs of the people take precedence over the rights of individuals. Ultimately, this extends to the idea of an altruistic society where individuals must sacrifice and form a safety-net for those less fortunate. It does not matter that certain individuals have shown no responsibility for their actions – have made poor life choices, have not saved for their future, wasted their lives with smoking, drugs, or alcohol, or never worked and earned a living – society must protect and provide for them. Paternalistic economic and political policies treat adults like infants who cannot care for themselves without government help.
What is needed now is a return to individual freedoms and responsibility. An integral part of responsibility is productivity; a person must seek to pull his own weight. We, as a society, must return to the idea that every man is an independent, sovereign entity who posses an inalienable right to his own life. Should we isolate ourselves from world affairs? We should not. Should we abandon trade with our neighbors? We cannot. Trade is necessary for our survival. Should we cease being benevolent to others? We must not. But rekindling our revolutionary spirit of individual self-reliance and liberty can help us lead the world in these troubled times. We need a new individualism that will restore political freedom and create a culture in which our children can survive and flourish.
individual responsibility. that seems so distant in america today….whatever happened to it???? I guess it has gone the way of the dollar a gallon gas, the drive in movies and bell bottom pants. Every individual must return to the basics. expect nothing for free. hard work never killed anyone. it made them strong! and that is how we can make America strong again!!!