Selfishness and the 2024 Election

SOURCE: Maurizio Blondet

We are all selfish, to a degree. We do things that benefit ourselves and those who are close. So what exactly is it that distinguishes those who are generally considered selfish from those who are not?

We need to burrow below our selfishness and get a look at its roots. To do so, consider the following assertion: “We strive for control of the world in which we live.”

A couple examples will help clarify its meaning.

Imagine you and a friend are outside tossing a baseball back and forth. Your game of catch is the focus of your attention and temporarily becomes the world in which you live. Wherever your friend throws the ball, you move your hands to catch it. If successful, you have control; if you miss it, not so much.

Your job is another portion of the world in which you live. When working, you perform whatever tasks are needed to earn your paycheck. And why do you do that? Because that paycheck enables you to access life’s necessities. It gives you what we all strive for: Control.

We can move our focus around within the world in which we live, but we can also modify the outer bounds of that world. We can expand our world by learning new skills and by including more people. As we mature from infancy to adulthood, that is how we grow.

We can now see that the level of our selfishness depends on the size of the world in which we live. Is our world encompassing or constricted? Do we care about the well-being of those whose lives are remote from our’s — whether measured in distance, time, or culture — or are they of no concern?

The 2024 US Presidential election offers a choice between a reasonable person and someone who is arguably a narcissist. Consider the segments of the population that support the latter:

1. Those who are anti-immigrant - Trump claims he will deport millions, presumably including those who have lived here since they were children. Just imagine the lives disrupted and communities that would be torn apart. The selfishness of those who support such policies is driven in part by a fear of ‘others.’ Anyone who looks, talks, or behaves different than what one is accustomed to will trigger some level of stress. Also, and perhaps more importantly, there is likely a fear that the newcomers will chip away at whatever control one currently possesses. That fear is verbalized in the white-supremicist chant, “We will not be replaced.”
2. Those who oppose gun control - Why oppose requiring gun purchasers to demonstrate that they would be a responsible owners? Why so much concern with the amount of paperwork or mandated delays associated with purchasing a gun? Why so little concern for the innocent lives lost due to owners who are not responsible? Who would think that their convenience is more important someone else’s life? Only the selfish.
3. Those who oppose environmental restrictions - I understand corporations might prefer to ignore any environmental impact when looking to build and operate a new factory, but what is the alternative? Without oversight, company executives in search of profits have demonstrated they are selfish. Not all, but some would trash the environment and put the public at risk.
4. Those who oppose serious work on climate change - The facts are real and the science is clear, the buildup of atmospheric CO2 is changing our climate. What label should be applied to those who are unwilling to make changes and sacrifice, if necessary, for the sake of their grandchildren?
5. Those who oppose government mandates - Government mandates, involving such things as resource conservation (e.g., water, energy) and public health, are implemented with the intention of benefitting the general public. It is to be expected that selfish individuals will feel burdened by such mandates because, in their constricted world, they do not comprehend the societal benefits. They only feel their individual loss of control.
6. Those who want to reduce public assistance - There are all manner of public assistance programs. There is disaster relief, unemployment insurance, food subsidies, housing assistance, medicaid, medicare, social security, etc. In every single case, our representatives have decided, for one reason or another, that those programs should be funded. Now, it’s a legitimate point-of-view to think the government should do less, tax less, and just let everyone take care of themselves. It’s also selfish.
7. Those who are anti-abortion - This group requires a little more nuanced evaluation. Why? Because we have conflicting interests between the fetus and the pregnant woman. For those who believe a fetus must always be protected, that means the woman would be forced to submit to the will of another. They are made a slave and to enslave is selfish. While that stance certainly seems the lesser of two evils when a woman is late in her pregnancy with a viable fetus, that is not the case during the early days and weeks of a pregnancy. Strict pro-lifers want what they want, regardless of its impact on someone else’s life. They are selfish.
8. Most Republican lawmakers - This group likely overlaps with many of the preceding ones. However, what about those who previously criticized Trump but now support him? Have they truly changed their view of Trump, or are they just trying to protect their own position?

Selfishness is the theme that runs through many of the population segments that support Trump. Given his lies, lawlessness, disrespect of others, lack of fidelity to any oath he takes, and the utter stupidity of some of the stuff he says, I used to wonder how it was that there were smart people who supported him.

Now I understand. Intelligence does not prevent selfishness.