Modern America emphasizes the importance of individual responsibility and encourages the free-thinking of the self. However, there is a significant portion of the population that encourages collective thought and socialism. This can be seen in the expansion of social programs where individuals are so individual they can no longer rely on their families due to a disconnect and instead defer to the State or government for support, this can be seen through the increase in welfare programs and subsidizing of various social programs related to education and health care especially.
Ralph Waldo Emerson was a champion of the individual. The belief that one's perception of reality is the reality succinctly or accurately depicts a major portion of this thought. So, with regards to modern thought in America and as to whether individuals are self-reliant and act with self-motivation and accountability, depends on the perception of truths described in the paragraph above.