By: Douglas J Utberg

One of the concepts that are frequently lost during the debate and discourse over public policy and government action is the individual.  Political movements frequently view people as groups, voting blocks, or some other form of faceless group that behaves in predictable patters.  In other cases, people refer to the notion of ‘society’ in reference to the entire population and culture of a city, nation, or region.

However, it is and always has been true that there is no person named ‘society.’  There is no ‘society’ that ‘allows’ people to live in poverty.  There is no ‘society’ that chooses winners and losers.  There are only people . . . individuals who live and make decisions.  Most of these people are content to go about their lives, and only desire to be left alone by the governing authorities so that they can achieve all the success that they are capable of.

Whenever the governing body attempts to extract resources from ‘business’ or ‘the rich’ or some other artificially created faceless group, we frequently forget that this group is really a collection of individuals who are ultimately forced to carry the burden for other people.  In this way, the electoral majority gets its way by forcing its will upon the smallest minority of all . . . the individual.

As we go through life, it is easy to see our own problems, or the problems of the world and think: “Somebody should do something about that.”  What we seldom think of is who “Somebody” really is.  By consistently assuming that “Somebody” is necessarily somebody else, it frees us from the necessity of taking action while assuaging our feelings of guilt.  In the end, “Somebody” is and always will be you.

As an autonomous individual, you are imbued with the ability to make your own decisions.  You have the ability to shape your future and you have the ability to help other people.  The individual may be the smallest minority in the world, but it is also the genesis of all great ideas and all great creations.  By using your creative intelligence, you have the ability to build a prosperous future for yourself and your posterity.