How much responsibility does the individual bear for acts committed by an elected government?

Question

Expounding on this idea, how much responsibility is the individual's for acts committed as part of a group? For example, what do you think was the role of individual choice in the rise of nazism? How does a group of men decide it is ok to gang rape someone? How does a community decide to force out the "undesirables" from within their midst? What is the role of individual choice, and why does it get suppressed?

I am not talking about bad decisions made under extreme duress, such as during war, but everyday choices that allow for a culture of alienation and hatred to develop.

Answer 1

Assuming that elections provided the electorate with actual choices (and often it does not), the individual bears upon himself a great amount of responsibilty for the actions of the government, for voting is but one way of holding the government accountable. Doing nothing can only be taken as a sign of acceptance of the status quo and its inevitable consequences.

Should the laws be unjust, the individual should engage himself to ensure the law be removed or, should that be impossible without a revolution, that the powers that be be removed. This would include an exploration of all the allowable political means [petitions, protests, lawsuits, etc.] and peaceful civil disobedience designed to protect the persecuted [sheltering, etc.] and to frustrate governmental injustices [denying tax revenues, etc.].

If all else should fail, the individual should vote with his feet, and move out; correct me if I'm wrong, but didn't Einstein do just this?

Answer 2

An elected government based on majority of the votes is not because of a collective thinking of a group of people. Because individuals vote according to their likes and dislikes and based on information available to them. Even with emancipated societies there are frequent actions to disinformation. Hence no individual can be held responsible as he thought best to give his vote to a particular individual or party.

In other cases referred mass opinions have prevailed. Nazism is one such. Gang rape does not happen just like that. More and more young men are to be given opportunities equally to bring out his best in society. If not he becomes an anti-social element and thus contribute for acts of molestation, narcotics, gambling et.,, Society has a responsibility to such acts. How a pre-occupied man with his work or otherwise will indulge in acts spoken above. People as a whole shall realise that acts such as above is due to society throwing to winds accepted norms and change for a few being fast than others. Hence one who could not cope with that change and cannot accept indulges in criminal activities.
Ramachandran V.

Answer 3

I think if the person is pushing the alienation, then they are all wholey responsible. Everyone is one hundred percent responsible for their actions and yes, sometimes their is no other options besides jail or death or something and then they are aleviated of guilt. But it has to be something very extreme.