I hear these comments for not wanting to help people, and it feels like we’re worshipping individuality to the detriment of community, which is necessary for survival.
- “I don’t want my money going to ___ .”
- “This is not a democracy, it’s a constitutional republic!”
- “You don’t have any freedoms under socialism/communism.”
- “They’re just looking for a handout because they’re lazy.”
- “I’m a self-made man. I didn’t need anyone’s help.”
- “Empathy is not a virtue.”
- “I don’t see how that’s my problem.”
you assume it’s biconditional. it’s not.
you can ask your boss for a raise, and get fired. for a lot of people there is no option for a union. and the smart move is to apply for another job that offers you better wages in another community entirely.
some of us had given a lot to our communities… and told to go f ourselves for not ‘fitting in’ or standing up against that community when it was willing to commit injustice in the name of ‘justice’.
also HOAs are a great way neighbors unite… specifically to oppress everyone else around them by making up all sorts of weird rules and penalties restricting the freedom of others. and if you you have no option to not be in the HOA now in a lot of places because that form of ‘community’ has become pervasive and oppressive in the name of ‘justice’ of preserving property values and creating exclusionary housing. that isn’t facism, it’s the self-interest of the community putting itself way above the interest of any individual who might want different.
Community isn’t necessary a net positive effect, oftentimes it can be totally oppressive. you can organize to create and promote injustice against marginalized people and further marginalize them or straight up criminalize them.
for a lot of people there is no community when shared views are retained. the point of community is submission of your individuality to the ‘greater good’.