When it comes to questions such as ‘the individual vs. the collective,’ irony abounds.

The right believes in the power of the individual, so when a powerful individual arises, they genuflect to and seek to emulate that individual, debasing their own individuality.

The left believes in the power of equality, that each voice is equal. So, each voice feels empowered to steer the collective as it sees fit, debasing the collective.

The individual helps build the collective, the collective helps to empower the individual. It’s a dynamic that, also ironically, on its own seeks harmony. Discord arises when rewards for collective successes systematically skew towards a minority (profits), and collective political power is unevenly shared, as seen in the US in gerrymandering and electoral college and Senate representation imbalances.

The further irony is that’s it not the collectives that are to blame for discord, but individuals. Collectives have no agency on their ‘own.’ But again and again the right blames government and the left blames corporate ‘greed.’

The solution is taught in Kindergarten. Share and share alike. Simplistic, but, all the best foundations are!

Thanks for the read!