If America was founded on principles of individualism, why should we bother doing community service?

Answer 1

Because it's the right thing to give back to our community and the less fortunate.

Answer 2

Your question has the implication of a false dichotomy. There is no reason why a society can't honor individualism and encourage its members to selflessly meet the needs of the greater community. Clearly the founding fathers of the US had a vision of community service, because community service and its virtue are built into our most basic laws and traditions. Jury duty, political service, police, firefighting and military service and, indeed, democratic voting itself are all forms of community service.

I think there's some confusion because the type of individualism that rebukes community service is a much more modern invention. The philosophy of Ayn Rand and Objectivism comes to mind, which was a reactionary philosophy against the spread of socialism in the 20th century. To that end, I would argue that both socialism and Objectivism are two opposite, extreme ways to look at the world. Most people compromise and have more moderate views.

Likewise, today's popular culture and advertising subtlety pushes an agenda of consumer individualism, because, why would you convince a community to buy one or two pick-up trucks to share as needed, when you could convince every individual in the community to buy a pick-up truck individually? As a result, people's sense of self has become directly tied to ownership (the shoes we wear, the car we drive, the house we own) in our society. Many other cultures have an identity that is based more on community and belonging.

So, in these senses, I'd say that your question is a little biased by the modern definition of individualism. Our current concept of an individualism that trumps the communal need didn't exist when the United States was founded. In fact, such a definition wouldn't make sense in an age before processed food, central heating, catalog shopping, air travel and other inventions that remove direct human interaction and collaboration from basic survival.

Answer 3

You don't have to do community service. You as an individual have the option to choose whether or not to contribute to your community. You also have the choice to decide in what manner you will contribute to your community, if you so choose.

However, many things that are not required are worth doing.
Why bother being a good parent?
Why bother informing oneself about current events and politics?
Why bother maintaining your car?

The wonderful thing about the USA is that you are not forced to do anything of these kinds of things.

However, doing community service is certainly one the best ways to invest your time, but because it helps those in need, which in turn helps your community, which in the end makes life better for you as an individual.

Answer 4

Yeh good point, America has always been far right compared to other countries. But because of right wing politics comes individualism and individuals bring more socialist ideas. Answer to your question, they stole the idea of community service from either Australia or New Zealand (they were the guiney pigs of social policies).

Answer 5

Because every individual is a member of society, and what helps the society as a whole also benefits the individual.

Individualism is not the same thing as selfishness.

Answer 6

America was founded on not wanting to line the pockets of some far-away government officials. Community service helps people who are, well, part of your community, somehow close to you, not far away.

Answer 7

Your question assumes that America was founded exclusively on principles of individualism. It was also founded on concepts like "nation," "republic," "democracy," etc. -- all of which involve groups of people cooperating to some extent.

Answer 8

"Individualism" ????

our motto: "UNITED WE STAND" !