Only upon the premise of individualism can a free society be built. In fact, individualism was the implicit philosophical principle underlying the American concept of government as servant rather than master. The real significance of the American Revolution lay not in a military triumph (for other nations have won independence only to lapse back into tyranny), but in the partial triumph of the philosophy of individualism.
-R.W. Grant (The Incredible Bread Machine)
It seems that in every turn of the head, we are confronted with yet another claim of “The Community” of one sort or another – IMHO, it is now one of the most overused and abused words now used in the political world. And when the Left uses “Community”, it is always about the collective and someone is talking about or speaking for that group.
There is no Individual in that usage. In fact, I posit to you that “Individual” is now a dirty word. Deliberately done, it is meant to shift the focus from the main purpose of the Founding Fathers – maximal Liberty for Individuals. There IS no Liberty for a group – Liberty is a personal attribute of an Individual.
Sure, there is the fact that Individuals can voluntarily Cooperate with each other. The Left would call that “collectivism” – but it’s not. Voluntary collective actions, like those of the Amish and their famous barn raisings, especially for new couples, are NOT what the Left wants you to believe it is – they ALWAYS forget that “voluntary” part. When De Tocqueville came through America in the 1830s, he was amazed at how Americans would come together to solve a problem, solve that problem, and then disperse.
The Collectivists (aka Socialists, Progressives, Communists, Communitarians) have no concept of that notion. Even now, they’ve been yammering that EVERYONE must wear a mask to protect others. Then, it was yammering that everyone had to get vaccinated to protect everyone else. And of course, now it is that you will be vaccinated and you will be wearing a mask.
Forever. Because everyone else has the “right” to place an obligation on you to behave to make them feel better about themselves (“Safetyism” taken to the max). And with that obligation, your Liberty has been violated. At worst, they are working to make it disappear altogether.
After all, it’s all about “Community”, right? Why else would they keep emphasizing it?
So, what say you? And what are you telling your family and friends about this loss?
(H/T: Cafe Hayek)
