Is American individualism really the best way?

Question

I'm not referrring to democracy here, but our culture of what an essay I read in college referred to as "Bowling Alone." Have we really bettered ourselves by focusing so much on ourselves, and so little on those around us in our community?

Answer 1

Too much of anything is bad. A balance is needed. Individualism is wonderful and great but too much of this methodology has turned into ignorance.

It sucks when Americans do not know the difference between India and Pakistan or where Afghanistan is. It is sad. Or even states in their own country or president of their own country.

Answer 2

I'm not rebutting your position as it must be based in experience yet my own experience when traveling in the good old U.S. of A. has been wonderful. I find your folk to be generous and really friendly, I think giving would be a good way of putting it. Those tailgate parties you guys throw with everyone sharing, that's just the best! Back in the day when I would take an occasional alcohol drink I was never able to pay for one when we went into America, some one was always buying a round; and that's not cheap! The waitress would take our two dollar bills though; almost everyone of them that I meet thought they looked cool; and we wanted to throw something in for goodness sakes! I guess it's all what you see, for me I've been lucky or blessed; or maybe both; but when people are good to me it stays with me; and I've not meet any Americans yet that were not willing to help me with directions, tell where a good local restaurant was ( Almost every time I asked this no matter where I was in the States the person would say "You want fancy or you want cheap", heck now I say it if I'm asked ) or just shoot the breeze for a minute. Friendly and generous on one particular occasion when I was injured in the states as well. We had heard all these horror stories about not being able to afford to pay for medical assistance in America but they patched me up and never asked for a dime, frankly I would have died without those peoples help; God love them all. It's been a while since last I was in America, I just can not imagine the character of a People changing; I sure hope not; what a loss that would be.

Answer 3

Eastern cultures view society as being more important than the individual and hence the clash between Asian Countries and the West over 'Human Rights'. I think that we have sacrificed a lot to the god of individualism. As you say we have little sense of community - our society only seems to come together when there is a catastrophe like a war and we don't seem to be so very happy with the freedom of choice that we have. Perhaps the crime rate would not be so high if we did not teach people to be selfish and greedy. Perhaps we would be happier if we all helped each other and got back the feeling of community rather than the materialistic uncaring society which we have built.

Answer 4

I think there needs to be a better balance. we can not as a society be so focused on ourselves because as we see today.. the gap between the rich and poor is getting wider and wider. You have to look to yourself and have the means to live your life fully and to be able to better yourself all the time. but not at the expense of pulling the rug out from under the other folks that are around you.

Answer 5

Without making any moral judgements, Id say American Individualism is the best way in the absence of something better. It definitey achieves their end

Answer 6

Yes self will run riot.

Answer 7

r u communist?