Redistribution Of Individualism In The United States

Before one begins to try and interpret true meaning behind the concept of Individualism, he must first understand the evolution of altruism. At its core, altruism is a form of sacrifice; it is an act of selflessness and kindness. However, as mankind has advanced past the constant struggle to survive, the definition of altruism has shifted from an act of great benevolence and philanthropy, to a social expectation. When society finally understands the fallacy of this concept, the true definition of individualism becomes apparent. Individualism is the belief that generosity should be a choice, that the right to be selfish is a fundamental freedom, and that the forced redistribution of wealth by the government is an infringement upon the natural …show more content…
For example, the Affordable Care Act passed in 2012 creates a mockery of the American tax code. In essence it is forcing hardworking American consumers to tap into their wallets and pay for a product they may not even benefit from. For some, it is a sort of ‘forced-donation’, which is undeniably unconstitutional in nature. This aspect of welfare is the exact system that the concept of individualism strives to defeat. Imagine this, a hard-working and healthy American consumer has to pay directly out of his wallet to help pay for the medical bills of an unemployed drug-user who has thrown his life away in laziness and bad-decisions. Welfare makes it so that inefficient and otherwise useless members of society are to be held up by hardworking Americans, thus slowing the country down. These opinions are often labeled as avarice or self-centered, but are those concepts really as bad as many …show more content…
However, it is important to understand that ‘greedy’ and ‘selfish’ are not the personality traits of a dark, depraved human. Rather, they describe the priorities and goals someone has set for themselves in life. People who are ‘selfish’ are simply exercising their right to put their own interest before those of others, and people who are ‘greedy’ are just opportunists, using every chance to better themselves and achieve their goals. When ‘greedy’ or ‘selfish’ acts are presented as immoral, it creates the undesirable idea that single-minded and relentless pursuits of one’s goals are inherently evil. Without driven and calculating people to lead human innovation and push the boundaries of the American workforce and economies, the advancement of humanity would have stagnated long ago. Critics of individualism fail to see this