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Use of expression like "sacrificed" and "alleged common good" makes the statement emotionally charged against restrictions on individual rights. However reality is that societies grants and protects rights to individual to promote the common good. It is possible for some individuals to promote their individual goods by hurting the interest of others, but it is not possible to provide good of all the individuals in a society, when the society as a whole suffers.

Therefore i do not agree with the proposition in the question. What we need is individual good. Individual rights with misery for all is of no use. As a matter in a situation the society has no power to prevent some individual to trample on rights of others. Thus, when society gives unbridled rights to individuals it actually results in reduction, rather than improvement in individual right and liberty.

For example if right to free speech is used by some to insult, harass, and malign others with malicious intentions, and there are no legal means to put an end to such behavior, some individuals may cause harm to many others. The result will be net reduction of right of individuals to live peacefully and with dignity. Whereas a reasonable restriction on right to speech can insure that this right is not used to harm others unjustifiably.

Indeed, the previous post makes some excellent points.  However, with regards to the short story, I would posit a different answer.  Examine how Vonnegut looks at the notion of individual rights being sacrificed by the institution of government.  He suggests that through justifying the curtailing of individual rights, those in the position of power can do great damage to the fabric of personal liberties.  Writers like Vonnegut, and many in the Science Fiction genre, were animated by the ideas of what would happen if individuals were willingly complicit in the forgoing of individual rights to the state apparatus.  Despotism and such measures are easier to justify if individuals are willing participants, and using ideas like "common good" or "curtailing of rights" could be a form of code to allow this to happen.  In the story, examine the instances where this happens, where individuals are willing participants in the actions of the state which seek to consolidate control and power through the vitiation of individual liberties.  Indeed, at some level, there has to be a curtailing of rights.  An individual's right to free expression ends at another's nose and the most stringent protection of free speech would not allow a person to yell "Fire" in a crowded theatre.  Any speech that constitutes a clear and present danger is not free speech.  Yet, having said that, when individuals begin the process of curtailing their own personal liberties in the name of "social good" or "common good," it makes it easier for those in the position of power to do the same. In this sense, the pendulum has to swing the other way in a zealous defense of individual freedoms and liberties.

Moderation in all things.  Yes, some rights must be give up in order to create an organized society.  Much like the previous post stated, at some level, there must be a curtailing of rights.  However, when too many of these rights are given over to a greater power, we lose our individuality and power to control our own existence. 

"Harrison Bergeron" and the novella Anthem, have similar themes in this way.  The people in "Bergeron" have given up their rights to the government in order to create equality amongst all men.  The people of Anthem give up their rights to each other in order to create equality.  They even go so far as to remove the word "I" from their vocabulary to show that no individual is better than their brother.

The idea that things could go so far is terrifying, but possible.  That is why moderation is a good thing.  If we give up our rights too much, we lose our chance to be heard - but if we don't give up any rights, than anarchy takes over.  Moderation in all things is really the only way to go.