You Are Not Alone
“Pull yourself up by your bootstraps”
“You can’t rely on anyone else”
“Asking for help is a sign of weakness”
“If you want it done right, you must do it yourself”
We’ve all heard these phrases in our lovely United Statesian culture. They are supposed to be motivating sayings when you’re down or feeling lazy. But for some, including our political leaders, they’ve become a way of life.
We have a hyper-individualized rhetoric being told to us not only from the political conservative right. At its most extreme of this side is Ayn Rand. Our dear Republican politicians are more moderate than she was, generally speaking, but many cite her as an inspiration for their policies. Ayn Rand promoted an idea that every person is totally able to have full control over whether or not she succeeds in life. And that only that individual person can do it. And that person should not rely on the assistance of anyone else, ever, unless they are doing so out of a manipulative tactic.
The more moderate approach is the cracking down on the “welfare” state of America. This is a platform often taken by our dear Republican leaders. They would have you believe that you, personally, exist alone. That your actions have no bearing on those around you. That collective action can not occur. Or, if it does, it only occurs under tyranny and oppression. The only thing that matters is your family, your business, your property. You, you, you. No one else. Only you are responsible for yourself. Only you have control over your life. Only you can prevent forest fires. Only you. By yourself. Alone. In this world.
If only that were the case.
If only it didn’t matter if the owner of the coffeeshop weren’t ill, now you must either break in, go somewhere else, go home to make your own, visit a friend to get coffee, wait until you get to where you’re going to get coffee, or skip the coffee altogether. Your options are affected by those around you, with whom you interact. Imagine this, but multiplied to every single interaction you have every single day, even the passive unnoticed interactions. This does not mean that you are incapable of making choices, of being responsible for the courses of action you take. But it does mean the scope of your options is shifted or limited more than you think.
America as we know it is based on a theory from John Locke, called the social contract theory. This theory, in short, states, that we enter a state of contract where we agree to participate in a mutually advantageous way of life. We can see this demonstrated by our agreement to the Bill of Rights, to being law abiding citizens. In agreeing to be citizens, we agree to participate in exercising our legally mandated rights outlined in the Constitution.
There is a problem with this.
It functions on the assumption that all people relate to each other in rational and well reasoned ways. It assumes that all people are free and equal, which is fine, except that the implicit assumption is that we are all the same. Supposedly, we practice the same values, the same interests, and have the same abilities. Or, at least they are similar enough. And that our beliefs and preferences are compatible within a large society. These assumptions have run us into trouble. The United States encompasses one of the broadest spectrums of diversity in the world. We also have some of the most divisive social practices. It is unfortunate, in a way, that we have such a disagreeable plurality. The social contract, as proposed by Locke, is not inclusive. We have to make it better.
We never got a chance to decide these things for ourselves. We’re automatically considered citizens. So everyone puts up a fuss about not wanting to participate but still wants to receive the benefits of living together cooperatively from the systems and programs already in place. You can’t get out of it. The only thing you can do is participate. Or leave and join another society.
If you stay… Use your position of privilege. Get educated on your local issues. Participate in your local elections. Engage your community. Realize that the government is meant to enable flourishing. We are not here for each other to teach other hard-learned lessons through public policy. As a society, we do that enough with our copious amounts of public social shaming. We can still control our government and use it for good. Especially if we as individuals take it upon ourselves to bother to participate at the local levels. We can do good through these systems rather than retreating to isolationist principles. The whole point of living in a society is mutual benefit - not to screw each other over. Locke’s contract theory went with a competitive edge. We can still engage in that contract, but we can do it while keeping in mind that we ought to avoid harming those with whom we share a life.
The idea that only you craft your future is anemic at best. It speaks to an isolationist, overly individualistic, atomistic attitude about ordinary human life. You do not live alone in this world. What you do affects other people. You are never truly alone.
Remember
“It Takes A Village”
We can make a living together. It’s alright to do that. You don’t sacrifice freedom by working together.
You are not alone.
