Democracy v Individualism?

Question

It was easier to find similar thought than to ramble..

Individualism is a term used to describe a moral, political, or social outlook that stresses human independence and the importance of individual self-reliance and liberty. Individualists promote the exercise of individual goals and desires

Individualism has a controversial relationship with egotism (selfishness).

In political philosophy, the individualist theory of government holds that the state should take a merely defensive role by protecting the liberty of each individual to act as he or she wishes as long he or she does not infringe on the same liberty of another. This contrasts with collectivist political theories, where, rather than leaving the individual to pursue his or her own ends, the state ensures that the individual serves the interests of society when taken as a whole

Such ideas influenced the framers of the U.S. Constitution (the Jeffersonian Democratic-Republicans) who believed that the g

Answer 1

individualism is both +ve  and -ve, depending on how it's being portrayed.  when used in the context of a community and working for the good of others as well as yourself without glory seeking is glorious.  when the ego seeps in, it becomes a monster.  

so governments and the individuals hv to ensure that society's needs are well taken care of and that the individual is reined in when in conflict with that of society

eg hitler, stalin are all individual who destroyed their societies and the world too

Answer 2

i'm not sure these theories are muttually exclusive or oppositional, it seems they both have a core principal of liberty wich is extended to both the individual and the community as part of the social contract.