Which country in the world is most individualist? etc.

[Peter Morris]

Which country in the world is most individualist? I'm from Australia. I've been listening to Rand speak of America in the way it used to be. It's odd because, in today's world, I cannot see America as anything other than any other wretched welfare state. I'm sure there is still some spirit of indivualism there, but all the successful people appologize for their success, give enormous amounts to charity and claim to do it for everyone else, etc. Indeed, if I lived in America I would be worried and looking to get out soon.

 

Which country or region is the most philosophically individualist? Where is there any hope in the world? Has the entire west has denounced its foundation?

 

I think China will rise economically to be roughly under but nearly as prosperous as Taiwan (with whom it shares language, history, people, and philosophy minus communism) but their philosophy will prevent them from ever being truly great in the way that America once was. The Chinese mentality is still quite mystical and collectivist, but they are hardworking, intelligent and practical.

 

But where today can one THRIVE as an individual?

 

I'm not asking for the most economically free, or the most GDP rich, or the lowest taxes. I mean which has a general culture and over all individualist nature? Which place actually celebrates success?

 

In Australia, success is somewhat celebrated, but it is as if you must pay penance for it, and you mustn't take the full credit. After all, "others haven't had your opportunties you know!"

 

Thank you.

Edited April 10, 2014 by Peter Morris

[Nicky]

But where today can one THRIVE as an individual?

 

I'm not asking for the most economically free, or the most GDP rich, or the lowest taxes.

You should be asking that, because that's the main thing you need, to thrive as an individual. Being an individualist means that you don't need everyone around you to agree with you. Your countrymen are entitled to their opinions and choices in life. You just need them to let you be free, and associate with people who are more like you.

You can find other individualists to associate with in many places. The problem is avoiding the collectivists at the same time.

[Peter Morris]

Isn't it better to live amongst people who are individualistic? According to this I live in the 3rd most economically free country, and yet the highest tax bracket is 45%. Total tax rate for a productive individual is likely to be over 25%. Are we not 25% slaves? Denmark is a socialist hell hole. 45% tax is basically the lowerst bracket.

 

Tax bothers me so much.

Edited April 11, 2014 by Peter Morris

[Repairman]

Peter, while I'm not quite sure of what criterion you're using to rank a national philosophy, I find it difficult to name the nation with the greatest individualism. To begin with, a nation is a form of a collective; an individual is as unique as everyone else. A great American athlete and philosopher, Yogi Berra, may have once said: "They have a great team; half of them are above average." Would it be more likely to be individualistic if you lived in Canada or Cameroon? It depends on the individual. Thank you for acknowledging the United States as having once been a great bastion of individualism, but the problem of collectivism among the cultural elite is a global problem. And while money does ensure greater personal freedom, it is not necessarily the measure of individualism. Their are plenty of copy-cats becoming financially wealthy without an ounce of creativity. In my opinion, the English-speaking peoples are much more free than any other in the world; our heritage of "the Rights of Man" in all of their various philosophical stages passed down through history are ours, and as a collective, it makes us unique among nations.

[softwareNerd]

Where is there any hope in the world?

Just one generation ago, Eastern Europe was a mess. The Poles in Gdańsk showed the way, the Berlin wall came down and Russia is being squeezed into fighting rear-guard, end-game style actions like in Crimea. In Asia, from India eastward, things have similarly improved radically over one generation. The middle-east and north Africa seem to be a mess, but these are messes that were probably an inevitable stage in moving from the last generation (of dictatorships) to the next generation where democracies will begin to form.

Of course, things do not move in a straight line. There are political reactions and back-tracking. The boom-bust cycle will not go away; and, we could well see another bust before the current recession is truly over. Nevertheless, if one looks at things globally and from the perspective of generations, things have got better for lots of people, all over the world.

In the west, one might complain about the growing statism, but that's really a complaint about what could be: i.e. things could be so much better. Still, if one considers material values, there has been so much improvement. With all the statism, we still ended up with a huge internet, near-free calls around the world, a multi-GB computer + camera in everyone's pocket. The cars are better. The food is fancier -- even pretentious. Even healthcare, for all the regulation, goes forward rather than back.

But... there's a key difference between a global and long-term trend, and the changes and environment that is relevant for your life. For someone living at the time of the Russian revolution, it would be little solace to know that the commies would be gone after he himself was dead. Even shorter term downtrends can devastate people: the stereotypical example being a middle class Jew who lost everything, even his life, under Nazi rule, even though it lasted about a decade.

As an individual, if you are not going to be actively involved in advocacy of politics, you pretty much have to make the best judgement of all your options, and then act accordingly. As an individual, it is not so important to start by asking: "what place is the most free?", in general terms. One has to relate that to oneself. So, start by asking: what do I want to do? Do I want to be a software nerd or a brain-surgeon, or run a little cafe on a ski-slope, or trade stocks, or be a farmer, or teach school, etc. That's the starting point. Achieving your dream, whatever it is, is possible in more place around the world than ever before.

[Peter Morris]

Peter, while I'm not quite sure of what criterion you're using to rank a national philosophy, I find it difficult to name the nation with the greatest individualism. To begin with, a nation is a form of a collective; an individual is as unique as everyone else. A great American athlete and philosopher, Yogi Berra, may have once said: "They have a great team; half of them are above average." Would it be more likely to be individualistic if you lived in Canada or Cameroon? It depends on the individual. Thank you for acknowledging the United States as having once been a great bastion of individualism, but the problem of collectivism among the cultural elite is a global problem. And while money does ensure greater personal freedom, it is not necessarily the measure of individualism. Their are plenty of copy-cats becoming financially wealthy without an ounce of creativity. In my opinion, the English-speaking peoples are much more free than any other in the world; our heritage of "the Rights of Man" in all of their various philosophical stages passed down through history are ours, and as a collective, it makes us unique among nations.

 

Let me make it concrete for you

 

Would it be more likely to be individualistic if you lived in Canada or Cameroon? It depends on the individual.

 

 

It would be more likely to be individualistic in one or the other. It does not depend on the individual. We are talking about an average, a culture.

 

Which country, as defined as a population of people living within a state and within a defined geographically area, has on average people with the most individuist mindset or where has the culture most condusive to the flourishing of an individualist. This does not depend on the individual. It depends on the aggregate of the individuals in the country.

 

Half the team is above average for THAT team by definition. However, you can have a team who are 100% above average compared to all the other teams. I will assume you understand the meaning of average.

 

I'd rather live in a country where 90% of people think favourably towards becoming wealthy and hard work than a country where 90% of people look down on you, and shame you for being successful. Take Denmark as an example. The general culture is that you should not think you are better than anyone else. Everyone should be the same. If you picked one person and they were highly individualistic you wouldn't say 'that whole country is individualistic'. Why do I care? Because you have to live somewhere and your life is effected by the aggregate philosophy/culture of those people around you.

 

And while money does ensure greater personal freedom, it is not necessarily the measure of individualism.

 

I didn't say it did

 

 

In my opinion, the English-speaking peoples are much more free than any other in the world; our heritage of "the Rights of Man" in all of their various philosophical stages passed down through history are ours, and as a collective, it makes us unique among nations.

That's true. Most people still cling to vestiges of these old ideas of individual rights. It's just you have to pay 50% as penance to society if you make too much.

Edited April 11, 2014 by Peter Morris

[Peter Morris]

 So, start by asking: what do I want to do? Do I want to be a software nerd or a brain-surgeon, or run a little cafe on a ski-slope, or trade stocks, or be a farmer, or teach school, etc. That's the starting point. Achieving your dream, whatever it is, is possible in more place around the world than ever before.

I would love to do this. *sigh* It sounds so good.

Edited April 11, 2014 by Peter Morris

[muhuk]

 

Isn't it better to live amongst people who are individualistic?

 

If this is your criteria, I can say you'll love Singapore. Or perhaps you might change your mind.

 

Here are the tax rates for Singapore: http://www.iras.gov.sg/irashome/page04.aspx?id=1190

[softwareNerd]

I would love to do this. *sigh* It sounds so good.

Do you have a particular profession in mind?

[Nicky]

Isn't it better to live amongst people who are individualistic? According to this I live in the 3rd most economically free country, and yet the highest tax bracket is 45%. Total tax rate for a productive individual is likely to be over 25%. Are we not 25% slaves? Denmark is a socialist hell hole. 45% tax is basically the lowerst bracket.

 

Tax bothers me so much.

Taxes make up just a fraction of those scores. The bigger issues they consider are government spending and regulations. Another massive issue is the quality of the judicial system and corruption levels. Faults in those areas prevent economic growth (which is synonymous with people getting rich) even more than high taxes.

Even when it comes to taxes, that 45% rate can be deceiving. If you own a business or are an investor in several (which are the ways to get REALLY rich), you're not actually paying that rate for the wealth you accumulate, for as long as it is re-invested. Your companies are instead likely paying corporate taxes.

Corporations can be located in other countries. So, you can start with $100 investment, turn it into a billion, and never pay that income tax, all while living in Australia. You are paying taxes (your business, if located in Australia, is getting taxed on profit, you are paying taxes for each employee you hire in Australia, any money you get paid personally gets taxed), but, as long as you keep most of your profits in the business, and most of your business in other countries with low corporate taxes, you can live in Australia and not lost too much of the money you're making).

Eventually, you will end up paying taxes on your income - when you receive dividends or decide to sell a business or your share of it (not sure how much, in Australia - in the US taxes on dividends and capital gains are way lower than 45%).

On the other hand, if you are just a well paid employee, the tax rate is unavoidable. At that point, you should seriously consider whether Australia is the place for you to live in. In Hong Kong, the standard rate (the most you'll ever pay) is 17%, and for the first $100.000/year, you actually only pay about $7.000. Same with Singapore, and the same with many countries with lower scores due to issues other than personal taxation. There are even some countries with lower income taxes than that (Bahrain apparently has none, not even social security).

Edited April 11, 2014 by Nicky

[Peter Morris]

Do you have a particular profession in mind?

I'm not entirely sure. I'm currently studying science at uni, but I'm not keen on being a research scientist getting paid pittance to make incremental progress. Applied science is more attractive to me. I want to make cool and useful things. I probably should have chosen engineering. I can still switch to pharamceutical engineering or do a double degree in science and engineering. But I wasted time for so long in my life I am keen to get working. I'm not sure what I want to do. I am interested in computers too. I've done some programming in my free time but not in quite a few years now. I want to do something awesome... obviously. I have many interests which is probably a problem. I do wish to choose one main focus.

[Repairman]

Peter, it's very helpful and gratifying to know the field of studies and interests you're pursuing. You may consider looking into the nations with the most new patents registered, or one with a good record of protecting the rights of innovators. Incidentally, my earlier reference to the "average" was a little joke. People tell me I should lighten up. I am glad to see more serious technology experts seeking individualism.