"Broadly defined, individualism emphasizes personal freedom and achievement. Individualist culture therefore awards social status to personal accomplishments such as important discoveries, innovations, great artistic or humanitarian achievements and all actions that make an individual stand out. Collectivism, in contrast emphasizes embeddedness of individuals in a larger group. It encourages conformity and discourages individuals from dissenting and standing out. Platteau (2000) for example illustrates collective culture in the context of African development. Specifically, he documents that productive individuals are seen with suspicion and are coaxed into sharing their surplus with the community. Collective punishments exist to penalize the rich.

...Generalized morality means that individuals support a set of social norms that are valid for all citizens in a given society, without excluding any particular group of people. Generalized morality is based implicitly on the notion that all humans have equal rights and duties and share a set of universal values. Limited morality in contrast views given norms of morality valid only within a given group such as the extended family, the clan or the tribe. When interacting with people outside one’s extended family, these social norms do not apply and opportunistic and amoral behavior is considered morally acceptable and justified."(source)

Identity politics has people identify with a group - a 'collective'. Their loyalty attaches to their group and can treat people not so identified differently, adversarially - even immorally. History is filled with examples. Often divisions form between the 'rich' and the 'poor'; management and labor; capitalists and socialists; 'makers' and 'takers'; etc. (See: Cloward–Piven strategy for more.) Also (see: Stages of social degeneration have been identified.) Have we reached the final Turning? The country has governed itself to bankruptcy, decline & division. The governed are rapidly withdrawing consent.  Maybe we need *less* governing and fewer laws.

Self-reliance and individualism made America great in the first place. By going back to the foundation of personal responsibility, we can quickly rebuild the trust we have in our peers. ...When we see on a personal level that someone is competent, self-motivated, and productive, we can build trusted partnerships. Voluntary partnerships. Partnerships where we are not enslaved to the other party, where we are free to take our business elsewhere if they do something to lose our trust. (source)

Click here for the Cycle.

Click here for the Culture Clash.

Click here for the Collapse.

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