Claude S. Fischer’s “Paradoxes of American Individualism” explains that what Americans perceive to be intense individualism is really voluntarism. Fischer cites many texts and surveys that depict Americans to be more loyal to groups, organizations, corporations, and religions which they are a part of than non-Americans, which is inherently contradictory to the ideals of individualism. He explains that the American value of individualism is really more voluntarism because the individual freely chooses which groups they affiliate with just as the individual freely chooses when to longer affiliate with a group. However, once the individual joins a discourse, they are metaphorically contractually obligated to maintain loyalty to the discourse for as long as the individual is a member.

In terms of the underprivileged people described in Langston Hughes’ poem, “Let America Be America Again,” Fischer explains that a problem with the model of American individualism is that Americans tend to blame the individual for the individual’s lack of economic success. Hughes describes the American capitalist system as “Of dog eat dog, of mighty crush the weak.” The capitalist system of America relies on the cheap labor of the lower class to benefit the money-hungry corporations and the fat cats who run them. According to Fischer and the surveys he cites, Americans do not hold the government responsible for economic inequality but rather blame the traits and will of the poor. Americans justify this blame based on the values of individualism. This is problematic as there is only so much a poor person can do when the capitalist system inhibits the poor from climbing the social and economic ladder.

I think Walt Whitman’s poem, “America,” is talking about the Americans who feel absolutely content with the life they have in America, their relationship with the country, and how the country perceives them. This group is easily inclusive of rich white people. It is wealthy white Americans who feel they and the country are “strong, ample, fair, enduring, capable, rich.” This poem excludes those who feel the government does not do its job of upholding equal liberties and justice for all. This group is easily inclusive of the poor and people of color. Poor and non-white Americans do not feel, “Perrenial with the Earth, with Freedom, Law and Love,” they feel their freedoms are limited and that they must face unjust laws and a country full of hate each and every day.