As high gas prices, natural disasters, economic, and political struggles grip the United States and many other industrialized nations, have we begun to fall back on the "Every man for Himself" philosophy of love-thy-neighbor? As we become more and more encapsulated into self preservation, or self-way-of-life preservation, does it lessen our ability for empathy? Does it promote national protectionism over rational internationalism? Does the altruistic mindset retreat in the face of personal struggle or threat?
"...food riots in Egypt and Haiti would convince the world’s wealthy nations of the need to do more to feed the world’s poorest. ...yet at last week’s United Nations food summit, the world’s more-developed nations proved, once again, that domestic politics trumps both humanitarian concerns and sound strategic calculations," reports the New York Times.
Witness something so simple and local as a short heat wave in NY. Suddenly, nothing is being said of global warming and greenhouse gasses....all comments revolve around "I'm melting," and the subsequent, "...I'm going to crank up the a/c and make my apartment into a freezer!"
Social and environmental consciousness taking a quick back burner to an overheated body, a temporary moment of carnal discomfort. When our own nation's politicians and policy makers face the potential tradeoffs from lessening agricultural trade barriers and reducing unnecessary agricultural subsidies, they balk. They know its the right thing to do for the world, especially the world's poor; yet, they are stifled by inaction and continue with the status quo. This temporary political discomfort is not a worthy trade off for doing the right thing.
When we actually face a trade off in our daily lives, when our comfort levels might be shifted out of their narrowly defined range, do we still desire to get up off the couch and make a change? Or is it every man for himself?
