Pros and cons of living in an individualistic society

[MrsSchrute]

I've been thinking a lot recently about the UK, and how it is becoming increasingly individualistic. Lots of focus on the rights and needs of the individual, and much less on society as a whole.
Personally, I can only see the cons of this. Much less willingness to put yourself out for others, to care for relatives who are sick or elderly (not your job, get social services to do it etc), ones own happiness comes before anything else.

What do you think? Is the UK becoming an increasingly individualistic society a good thing? What are the positives of this shift?

Are most people individualistic? I think the majority of people are primarily interested in their own family and the people they love and like, and structure their lives and support systems around that - much as people have done since the dawn of time. When was the golden age where this was apparently very different and everybody was routinely putting themselves out to help and support people they didn’t know or have any connection with?

Much less willingness to put yourself out for others, to care for relatives who are sick or elderly (not your job, get social services to do it etc)

And this isn’t generally about “individualism”, it’s that the domestic shitwork of looking after aged relatives was historically expected to be women’s work. Now that women are emancipated and more likely to have their own careers, they have less capacity to perform free care work. If my parents have to go into residential care in old age rather than come to live with me for care, it’s not because my happiness comes before everything else - it’s because if I don’t work I don’t have a home or food to eat (and this nor would they.)

The pros are it’s lovely for those who don’t need to rely on public services or affordable housing or viable, lucrative, stable employment being available.

Its not so great for everyone else.

People are naturally individualistic and have become more so as capitalism has thrived.

We can all see the impact - wages haven’t kept up with the cost of living, housing is unaffordable for most, public services are crumbling and we can’t recruit and retain people for some of the most essential jobs.

But we still remain individualistic. And political parties will continue to win by playing to this.

I do wonder just how bad things have to get before people stop and think.

@dadameofdilemma I agree.

I definitely think there is a balance to be had, but I feel like people are so individualistic that they just don't really care about anyone beyond themselves, and maybe their immediate family.

There was a recent thread where the OP was called a fool for wanting to care for her disabled brother!! I mean, what???

The irony is that it isn't actually individualistic to actively vote for political parties that are not committed to supporting the services that the vast majority need.
But people are so easily fooled by the 'banning immigrants and letting you drive your car wherever you like will solve everything for you' rhetoric that they're not making the connection.