To give you background information, my class is learning about the Watergate Scandal
and I was assigned to write a essay from the question, "Who is more important, the individual or the group?" Thank you very much!
What is more important, the individual or the group? After reading Born Again by
Charles C. Colson, researching various internet websites, and seeking the opinion of
others, I was able to make my own educated opinion. Due to the significance of being
valued equally, the beneficial balance of having the majority rule, and for the overall well being of everyone, it is my opinion that the group is far more important.
When our founding father’s began to build this country, the main focus was for every
man to have equal rights and to be equally valued. The significance of no one individual
gaining all authority was extremely high. The democracy they founded this country on is
slowly fading away. Our culture is at the beginning stage of individualism; which only
causes greed and selfishness. Every man is to be equal, letting no individual gain
authority over every man.
I believe that when dealing with a considerable amount of power, the majority, or
group, for the purpose of this paper, should rule. Thomas Jefferson said in the
Parliamentary Manual, "The voice of the majority decides. For the lex majoris partis is
the law of all councils, elections, etc., where not otherwise expressly provided.” Majority rule is a decision rule that selects one of two alternatives, based on which has more than half the votes. It is the binary decision rule used most often in influential decision-making bodies, including the legislatures of democratic nations; like America, for now. I believe that the majority should rule to appropriately express what is best for the group.
The needs of many outweigh the needs of few. In today’s culture, it is becoming
accepted to, “Do what you want.” Having this focus of every man for himself can cause
greater materialism and self-interest. In the gospel of John, chapter 11:49-50 states,
“And one of them, Caiaphas, being high priest that year, said to them, ‘You know
nothing at all, nor do you consider that it is expedient for us that one man should die for the people, and not that the whole nation should perish.” Nevertheless, we can begin to think as a whole. If we group together, our culture will begin to change for the bettering of all man’s well being.
In summary, I believe the group is more important. Because, if we operate as a group, everyone can be treated equally, the overall well being of every man could improve, and the majority ruling will continue to balance out what is best for everyone.
