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Forum Post: Collective or the Individual?

Posted 13 years ago on Oct. 14, 2011, 3:15 p.m. EST by ArrestAllCEOS (115)
This content is user submitted and not an official statement

Which do you choose?

8 Comments

8 Comments


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[-] 2 points by OpenSky (217) 13 years ago

I chose option C. Serve both and limit the excesses of each.

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[-] 2 points by blackwaterdwk93 (21) 13 years ago

As a Christian, I feel like there is more of an emphasis on caring for the interests of others and dying to oneself. Yet it is also important that we try to become the best person that we can be and seek to enhance ourselves physically, emotionally, spiritually, and intellectually. Tough call but I would say the collective and the interests of others would be slightly if not completely exalted above the individual.

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[-] 2 points by BHicks4ever (180) 13 years ago

Under what circumstances?

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[-] 1 points by luparb (290) 13 years ago

We are collectively individual.

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[-] 1 points by liveandletlive (77) 13 years ago

I like this question. As it turns out, it can be both!

In Finland, they Decided to Eliminate Homelessness.

That was a prioritized policy decision: it wasn't wild eyed marxism, it was a choice. They're a capitalist society. They're successful. People aren't lazy and haven't been destroyed by intrusive government. They made a choice and it appears to be working for them. Unlike the rightists in this country, who exalt the individual over the greater good, many countries support their populations. They don't call them entitlements--that's an American construct. Finland? They strive mightily to ensure that their people--whoever they are--have shelter. Are they run by marxists denying freedoms? Um, no, they're very economically successful. They are however, one of the most educated countries on the planet. (source: the liberal rag WSJ). According to the European Federation of National Organizations Working with the Homeless:

Perhaps the most concerted and successful effort to deal with homelessness is in Finland where, after the International Year of Shelter for the Homeless in 1987, the Government devised a multifaceted response to the problem. It included building of social housing, the creation of social welfare and health care services, and setting a target to provide a dwelling of minimum standards for every homeless person. The number of single homeless persons at that time was approximately 18 000. In just 10 years, the number of homeless in Finland was cut in half.

But the Finnish must be miserable, right? Wrong. They're consistently some of the happiest people on the planet, according to the international "happiness index." They just defined what is a basic right and applied that definition to public policy.

It's about clear-headed priorities and equitable allocation of resources, and executing to meet the goals--not mythical/pure laissez faire theories...

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[-] 1 points by Mitch333 (93) 13 years ago

Both.

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[-] 1 points by bronxj (150) 13 years ago

Individual

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