Is There a Road Back to Concern for All?

As we begin a new presidential political season, many people are filled with anxiety. The main reason for this concern is that, going in, there seems to be a lack of concern for more than "self." This concern for self borders on societal narcissism. This is no surprise to our Founding Fathers who argued for counterbalancing factions in government. James Madison wrote in Federalist Paper 10 “however small the republic may be, the representatives must be raised to a certain number, in order to guard against the cabals of a few; and that however large it may be, they must be limited to a certain number, in order to guard against the confusion of a multitude.” But at this point in time the factions are so polarized that it is hard to see an outcome that will not totally alienate the other side.

It seems that intentionally "following self-centered needs" are behind it all, as well behind an increased tendency to not find compromise for the sake of all? Certainly it seems like ethical egoism, intentionally serving self, is followed more today than before. At least one leading laissez faire capitalist was willing to admit this as a goal for the United States. In 2009 on a video series Wisconsin U.S. Representative and former Vice-Presidential candidate, Paul Ryan, said of leading ethical egoist, Ayn Rand, the author of Atlas Shrugged: ""I think Rand did the best job of anybody to build a moral case of capitalism, and that morality of capitalism is under assault."

At some points it seems like stubborn individuals don’t want to compromise for ethically mixed reasons. A current example may be Senator Tommy Tuberville of Alabama. This former Auburn football coach is not willing to put country in front of party in his blocking of many military appointments. Writing on the NPR website Ron Elving speculates: “He has said he wants to overturn the Pentagon policy of granting leave and travel expenses for military personnel who cannot obtain an abortion in the state where they are stationed….the taxpayer should not be ‘on the hook’ for such costs. He says it violates the Hyde Amendment that bans federal funding for abortion.” Elving goes on to question whether Tuberville’s motive is purely altruistic. “What other objectives Tuberville may have, we can only speculate. It is not unusual for first-term senators to look for issues that may raise their profile.”

Politicians with some power are often subject to a questioning of their motives. Like Tuberville, their desire to increase their own “self-image” even just to be elected again seems to be the driving force behind his positions. Governors who are inundated by those coming from countries south of the border like Texas Governor Abbott and even Florida government and presidential candidate Ron DeSantis seem to be taking a position for the good of their people, state and country. One wonders, though, if they are motivated more by self than by the desire to govern for the good of all.

There seems to be a decreasing desire to serve in a position of leadership in order to help others. Perhaps the loss of the guiding principle of the Christian Church on “losing self in order to find self is at the heart of it. The growth of secularism in our country may well be leading to a greater desire for self-gratification? If altruism is passing by the wayside, one wonders what would bring it back? War has often been a catalyst for serving others. It has led to valuing something bigger than individuals or political parties. Late in the last century the Persian Gulf War seemed to unite people? Early in this century 9/11 brought people together for a short while. Still, it certainly is not desirable to enter into conflict in any way with someone outside of our country in order to bring us together inside of the country.

What is really needed is a rebirth of the desire to do something for the larger country or world? Recently our excessive weather pattern and incidents seem to be uniting events. Although many deny the human role in increased climate change, the human desire to survive might be a uniting factor. What if our concern for the earth, something far beyond self-concern, could be the road back to altruism? What steps would it take to make it so?

We may be at a crossroads regarding polarization in our country. It is time for someone to lead us beyond self-concern to concern for all. Conservative retired federal judge J. Michael Luttig recently said on the PBS Newshour that it will take one or two people to stand up for the good of all to defeat the polarization in our society. Could the road back be labeled "concern for Planet Earth?" If this is not the issue, could there be another one that brings our country together? This may be the most important concern as we enter a presidential election season that would seem to threaten any concern for the good of all. Being American should be more important than being Democrat or Republican. Having concern for the whole world should be more important than even this!