How Extreme American Individualism Has Led to Failure

Is it right to put ourselves above others? What is more important– self-sacrifice or self-definition? These are ethical questions facing the U.S. which speak to American culture’s prioritization of the individual over the collective. It is normalized in our country to think of ourselves before we think about other people, and while sometimes this is important, our country is suffering from the consequences of our individualism. 

In the past few years, we have seen how America’s’ “insistence on the right of the individual” has led to failed policies during the pandemic. Despite healthcare professionals’ warnings, the country refused to go under full lockdown, and COVID-19 related deaths were the third most common way to die in 2020. A study showed “41.6% of respondents said they misrepresented or didn't [follow] at least one public health measure… 22.5% broke quarantine rules, 21.5% avoided getting tested when they thought they might be infected, and 20.4% didn't disclose suspected or confirmed infection when entering a doctor's office.” At least half of America could not give up their individual freedoms to sacrifice the health of their fellow citizens, and consequently suffered.

Hong Kong, where my family is originally from, had much lower death rates during the pandemic than the U.S. because no one protested the safety precautions. Until recently, Hong Kong citizens were prohibited from traveling to other countries and were required to wear masks in all public areas (and still do), but otherwise, life was normal throughout the pandemic. Citizens simply adhered to the policies enacted to ensure the safety of everyone. It is ingrained in their culture to put the safety of the collective before the individual's desires, and they have reaped the benefits. 

COVID safety policies are not the only way our selfishness manifests in our society. In the debate over gun control, many Americans argue the Second Amendment gives them the right to bear arms. On November 8th 2022, Iowans will vote on adding gun rights to their own constitution. The Chairman of the Iowa Firearms Coalition explained that bearing arms is a “fundamental right,” and it must be protected in case the Supreme Court decides otherwise. While it is undoubtedly a question of personal freedom, does this really matter when America has had the most school shootings in 2022 by a landslide? Isn’t it more important to give up our personal desires in return for safer schools? 

However, it is detrimental to argue that individualism has no advantages in our society whatsoever. When we focus on ourselves as individuals, we ensure that we are prioritizing our own goals. This, in turn, leads to creativity, progress, and entrepreneurship, and, as Americans, we hold these values dear. By competing against one another to be the best possible version of ourselves, incredible innovations emerge from our country.

America is special because of its individualism, but it is our selfishness that makes our individualism extreme. Our fixation on our own liberties disregards what would be more beneficial for the whole, and Americans are not ready to give up this sacrifice.

When the founding fathers created a Constitution, a Bill of Rights ensuring that American’s individual liberties were protected were the first thing to follow. America was built under the principle that the individuals hold more power than the country itself. 

Additionally, America is built under the premise of the “American Dream,” which may be another one of the causes of our individualism. According to a survey from the New York Times, “When Americans were asked what makes the American dream a reality, they did not select as essential factors becoming wealthy, owning a home or having a successful career. Instead, 85 percent indicated that ‘to have freedom of choice in how to live’ was essential to achieving the American dream.” In other words, to Americans, the “American Dream” is the right to preserve your freedoms.

Shifting the culture of our country is not a feasible task, so the remedy to curing our selfishness is not by eliminating our individualistic culture, but rather by thinking about what would be beneficial to the entire country. We must find a balance between interdependence and independence, meaning we must understand when to prioritize our own needs and when to think of others. 

Kiran Yeh is a junior and Law and Society major at Brooklyn Technical High School and a Next Gen Civic Fellow. Kiran is a section editor in her school’s newspaper, The Survey, and has written for other publications previously. She has been involved in political campaigns and is most interested in writing articles regarding politics.