Individualism plays a big role in the US, from the founding of the country to the way companies advertise in the present day, and is the zeitgeist upon which capitalism and meritocracy rest. The evolution of society is greater than the accomplishments of any one individual¹; arguably, humans need to cooperate in an almost ant-like way, though, with the added psychological complexity that comes with all parties feel they are receiving something more immediate than the longer-term, bigger picture goal.
Industrialization continues to progress with robots and AI performing increasingly complex tasks, in some cases, more affordably than a human being. If new jobs are created in the process of more simple jobs being replaced by machines, it's unlikely that the person who filled the replaced role would have the education, skill, or opportunity to fill the new and more complicated role. There is fear as to what humans will do when machines replace them in the majority of jobs; however, I believe that is the moment when Individualism and the individual will truly reveal itself². When meaning and purpose are no longer fed through a job, and basic services are still provided in an almost effortless way, people will need to individually confront their existence. A grouping mentality, though satisfying in a shallow and short-term way, will likely be just a psychological band-aid in coping with a radical change.
¹ Admittedly, the accomplishments of multiple individualistically-minded people yield the result of advancing society, even if their pursuits are performed out of single-mindedness.
² The individual may come about sooner than a machine driven society through virtual reality. This may be Individualism in a more Solipsistic sense.
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