Posted on 07/06/2023 6:36:09 AM PDT by Redmen4ever
In the past half-century, America seems to have swung from a conformist social ethic to a radical individualistic social ethic.
(Excerpt) Read more at heartland.org ...
Showing as a bad link.
Anything worthwhile takes lots of work and sacrifice. Pussies get in the way, siphon off the energy, and can affect the outcome.
If they aren’t “rugged individuals” they won’t be free for very long. Sissy boyz ALWAYS get their asses kicked.
the link shows for me
The benchmark of a free society is individualism. I have always revelled in it. Being different doesn’t mean you can’t share values.
Most unfortunately, I would say the exact opposite has taken hold in America. Yes, we used to be majority Christian, proudly patriotic and law abiding, but individually, most people seemed to think for themselves. Most people used to judge for themselves on what mattered in their daily lives.
A lot of us remain that way, but a growing majority seem content to allow elected officials, talk show hosts and has been celebrities to do the moralistic thinking for them.
Some almost treat it as belonging to a cult or a gang or religion based on. one’s view of race, taxation or sexuality.
I would make the following assertions:
Those people who are DEPENDENT on others. It would include the welfare class, the children in their 20’s still living at home, and those who rely upon the ‘experts’ to manage their investments.
On the other hand, those people who are INDEPENDENT accept their responsibility to provide for themselves upon becoming adults, save as much as possible for retirement, and have a capability to discern the world.
A guy i used to work with told me his dad told him: “Who cares about you? Nobody!.” Generally, that may be true. Some “tribes” more than others. 😳👍
Well said.
Godly or ungodly individualism?
Without a moral compass individualism is disastrous.
With a moral compass individualism leads to a high contribution to the social good.
When the social norms make sense people will follow them. That means there’s an underlying philosophy that provides consistency in its message. Traditionally, that message has been Biblical.
Today, the Bible is not the authority on philosophy, there is no underlying philosophy other than “anything goes”. Progressivism has no boundaries. It’s leading to an epidemic of mental illness that is manifesting into social chaos and violence. Satan is laughing hysterically at how stupid we are.
That said, we must not confuse this with “collectivism vs. individualism”. The USA is, and has been, the only country where the rights of the individual are paramount and supersede the desires of the collective, where the collective does not decide what rights you have.
Having inalienable individual rights ARE in the best interests of the collective. It is a perfect compliment to Biblical philosophy. As an immigrant it took me a while to understand the harmony of both. It doesn’t exist anywhere else, although both are under heavy strain as we’ve forgotten.
Everywhere else, the ‘rights’ of the collective come first and Christianity is almost nowhere to be found in the public square.
As the Borg says, "Resistance is futile"...that is unless you are a rugged individualist.
His conclusion is at odds with what he outlined, particularly about Aristotle. In fact, he's got it exactly backwards - a free society will produce "rugged individuals" - not the other way round.
Free society and humanity will naturally and automatically establish institutions that support individuals within families within communities. Government, such that it exist at all, should spring from these natural tendencies and support them. We certainly do NOT need to all be loners or adventurers.
Our present progressive/marxist ideology says that only government (and its elites) can design society.
On the other hand, those people who are INDEPENDENT accept their responsibility to provide for themselves upon becoming adults, save as much as possible for retirement, and have a capability to discern the world.
I would add to the LATTER to help support a society to help any of the FORMER whose need is no fault of their own.
Define “rugged.”
Critical thinkers?
Contrarians?
Independent as possible?
Lotta aspects to “rugged.”
They care about you to the degree they perceive you are useful to them.
Pretty useless over here. Guess I need to “check my 6” eh? LOL!
The Left is just fine with conservatives pushing “rugged individualism.” They know that individuals will get picked off one at a time by the mob.
Nah, most people are still very much conformists in everything that they do. They are just conforming to a different set of standards than the ones that people conformed to 50 years ago.
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