On a misty morning in the Scottish Highlands, William Wallace stands at the edge of a battlefield, his sword raised high, voice roaring above the fear and uncertainty of his men.

He knows what's at stake: freedom from tyranny and a vision of collective unity.

The mission: defiance against forces much larger than any one individual. A call to action that demands abandonment of personal fear for the hope of collective salvation.

Together, they answer the call—not as isolated men fighting for individual victories, but as a single force, determined to live or die for the freedom of their people.

"FREEDOM!" Wallace's rally cry echoes across the battlefield. It's not just a word—it's the unifying dream of a people willing to sacrifice, willing to fight as one for the greater good. And in that moment, their unity is an unstoppable force, the very essence of collective strength.

Yet, unlike the rally for collective freedom, we tend to see a continued cycle of ignoring the whole for the sake of preserving a false belief that our individualism is in danger. We are encouraged to see ourselves as separate, distinct from those around us, driven by a notion of personal autonomy that, in reality, often serves as a means of control rather than liberation.

Individual Over Collective

What drives this shift in embracing the individual over the collective?

In many cases, it's the concept of false consciousness. Karl Marx coined the term "false consciousness" to describe how powerful entities often manipulate people's perceptions to align with their interests rather than the individuals' own. It's fascinating to note that during times of social disorientation or disconnection—what sociologists call anomie—people are more likely to embrace ideologies that seem to protect their identity. Surprisingly, these beliefs may actually work against their true needs or society's overall welfare.

Now, we see individuals shouting “FREEDOM!” and clinging to nostalgic visions of “’MERICA,” believing they are defending and protecting their personal rights. Yet, this version of freedom often splinters from the reality.

Rather than a shared vision of liberation, it’s a cry for self-preservation. Ironically, many of these same individuals cast votes for authoritarian figures who represent not a reality of unified freedom but a projection of strength and control—embodying the qualities many themselves wish to possess.

This “freedom” being upheld, however, often aligns more with restrictive policies that minimize rights, creating an illusion where the desire to protect autonomy becomes a path toward endorsing rule by force. As Wallace’s rally cry once symbolized collective strength, today’s claims to freedom risk leading us toward isolation, control, and a retreat from the very ideals that freedom once embodied.

False Consciousness: The Mirage of Autonomy

Let's explore how false consciousness shapes people's voting habits and political alignments. When people believe they're empowering themselves by voting for policies or leaders who champion autonomy, many times they are reinforcing systems that increase social divisions, reduce protections, and weaken community support. This is where individualism becomes a subtle form of control. By encouraging people to prioritize "personal freedom and safety" over social equity, powerful entities can effectively keep systemic change at bay.

Historical parallels highlight how false consciousness perpetuates systems that favor the elite. In the 20th century, as fascism rose across Europe, many working-class citizens supported leaders who promised stability and pride. These movements often exploited a sense of cultural and economic dislocation, framing authoritarianism as the best route to personal and national strength—even if it meant sacrificing labor rights, equality, and democratic principles.

The Death of "The Many" in the Name of "Freedom"

Even more recently, in the Brexit referendum, working-class voters in the UK supported a vision of "taking back control" and sovereignty, despite economic warnings of potential job losses and instability. Their support was driven by cultural resonance—a feeling that their identity and autonomy were under threat from outside forces. This illustrates how individualistic cultural values can shape major collective decisions, even when they may involve trade-offs with other collective benefits provided through broader cooperation.

While it might seem that personal freedom and community well-being are always at odds, history tells us a different story. Strong communities can actually boost individual liberty by providing the security, opportunities, and support that allow people to thrive. Similarly, when individuals feel their autonomy is respected, they're often more eager to contribute meaningfully to collective goals. The real challenge isn't choosing between personal and community interests, but finding ways to align them productively. It's about striking a balance that benefits both the individual and the group.

This emphasis on self over society continues to shape voting patterns and cultural values, where freedom is defined by autonomy, often at the expense of collective progress. By prioritizing individual needs, we slowly erode the foundations of shared trust, communal effort, and mutual aid—the very essence of what makes democracy function.

The Echoes of False Consciousness Today

In the 2024 U.S. election, social media platforms played a critical role in amplifying individualist narratives, often at the expense of collective well-being. Platforms like X (formerly Twitter) have evolved into ideological battlegrounds, where messages of self-interest and cultural division circulate widely. The platform’s recent shift toward conservative nationalist viewpoints has intensified the appeal to individual identity over communal goals, promoting a vision of "freedom" that frequently excludes rather than unites.

This dynamic is compounded by social media's transformation into a tool for shaping public opinion in ways that can mimic—and manipulate—individualistic values. Rather than fostering genuine discourse, platforms are optimized for engagement, where polarizing content often rises to the top. The constant cycle of personal validation, through likes and shares, deepens isolation under the guise of connection, creating a population that rallies behind notions of self-protection over community welfare.

The tension between individual interests and collective good continues to shape our society. Consider Spock's famous line, "The needs of the many outweigh the needs of the few, or the one." While this principle resonates with many as an ideal worth striving for, its implementation has always been challenging. Today, we're seeing this age-old tension play out in new ways as people navigate how they vote and engage in social action.

The challenge isn't that we've drifted from some golden age of collectivism - such an age never truly existed. Rather, we're struggling to find new ways to balance individual liberty with collective responsibility in an increasingly complex and interconnected world.

These competing narratives of personal freedom and collective well-being continue to shape our social behaviors. While these individually-focused stories seem to champion liberty, they might actually be weakening the very fabric of our society.

The social bonds and mutual trust that enable effective participation in democracy could be at risk. It's a delicate balance we're grappling with: how do we preserve individual autonomy without sacrificing the collective strength that makes democracy work?

In place of Spock's charge, the modern rally cry is to protect "my freedom" rather than to uplift collective welfare. As a consequence, democracy will continue to be fragmented, with individuals casting votes in isolation, unified under false consciousness, even as the system calls for the collective engagement that could make it whole.

Our true power lies not in standing apart but in finding unity in shared purpose beyond individualism.

Can "The Needs of the Many" Still Be Realized?

History's moments of collective action - like Wallace's army united against tyranny - remind us of the delicate balance between individual liberty and collective action. When freedom becomes a weapon to divide rather than unite, we are swaying far from its purpose. The irony is striking: in our fierce defense of personal autonomy, we've created a society more susceptible to control than ever before.

Can we ever hope for a modern society that truly prioritizes collective well-being over individual gains? Until we see such a shift, it seems the voices championing the saving of personal freedom will continue to drown out those advocating for unity.

We're left with a paradox: a culture that celebrates standing alone together rather than truly standing together as one.