| Have you ever wondered how leaders like Donald Trump can declare themselves unimpeachable, based on “the greatest economy ever,” hold children in cages, dehumanize political opponents and immigrants, or make bold statements about being a dictator? Have you ever thought about how other leaders like George W. Bush and Lyndon B. Johnson could lie a nation into wars, killing thousands of U.S. troops and millions of civilians, and yet remain in office? The same goes for Bill Clinton and Brett Kavanaugh with their sexual assaults against women, or Ronald Reagan who lied to the American people about trading arms for hostages. Not only did his lie include conducting a secret war against Nicaragua which killed 60,000 people and was condemned by the UN as an “act of structural terrorism,” but he justified it by saying, “My heart and my best intentions tell me that’s true, but the facts and evidence tell me it is not. Universal Traits In his groundbreaking study of a list of human universal traits, Anthropologist Donald E. Brown found the capacity for humans to think certain things were naturally good or bad was remarkably elastic. What wasn’t elastic were useful things different societies thought were praiseworthy and to be valued. Known as ethnography, some of the most important things were coalition building; conflict; cooperation and cooperative behavior; collective decision making; fear; and envy. There were many other universal traits too, like political leadership and government; discussing human nature and behavior as it relates to private and public life; ethnocentrism; etiquette; feasting; food sharing; gift giving; group living; in-group biases in favor of close kin; divination; moral sentiments; positive and negative reciprocity; revenge; sanctions for crimes against collectivity; manipulation; territoriality; trade; and awareness of what others think. The Missing Link in Democracy But there was something else that Brown discovered. It was something all other cultures had in common except for that of the United States. He found (among the list above) that for Americans, it was too taboo, too off-limits, too personal to discuss human nature as it pertained to private and public life. This included political leaders. Unlike other cultures, what a leader did in private either before or after taking public office generally didn’t matter or, at least, wasn’t debated. After examining the history of societal interactions in the United States, he realized it hadn’t become an entirely modern prohibition. Unlike the ancient Greeks and Romans, including every major world religion, which considered human nature not only real but an essential subject for study and contemplation, Americans had always been just the opposite. They tended to support the public person, the image on paper or screen, instead of the past and private one. Telltale Signs of Undemocratic Behavior Although it’s become routine to hear about promising political careers imperiled by revelations of dishonesty, extramarital sex, tax avoidance, money laundering schemes, sexual assault, incest, child molestation, and even racism or making physical threats against others, the private lives of political leaders evidently don’t matter. Neither does it “make or break” a candidate, in the sense that, Americans elect their leaders not to be a moral authority; but a legislative one. And yet, it may matter how someone conducted themselves before taking office. It might also be a telltale sign of how they’ll govern-and govern secretly. If someone really is racist or dishonest, isn’t it best to know that before entrusting them with making public policy. And if someone can’t be trusted by their spouse, breaks the law, kept an enemies list, or has dictatorial and sadistic traits, shouldn’t it be known before they command the FBI, CIA, Pentagon, or foreign policy? A political leader’s past nature and private life can also give insight into their character. Character, or the mental and emotional qualities distinctive to an individual, doesn’t lie. Nor does it hide who the person really is when no one is looking. Despite a leader’s intellect, despite their apparent wealth or supposed social status, only people of good character can be trusted. The same goes for authenticity, ensuring one’s past actions are aligned with words and promises. An Undemocratic Aversion That Runs Deep There may be many overlapping reasons for America’s aversion to the topic of human nature, of ignoring their private behavior, and voting for political leaders despite their past actions. Not only did America’s leaders fail to live up to the ideals of universal equality enshrined in the Declaration of Independence, the U.S. Constitution and Bill of Rights, and similar laws, but they enslaved millions and committed acts of genocide against Native Americans. This may have set a precedence. Debating human nature in relation to the past is just too difficult to confront for most Americans-something like Germany being forced to confront its atrocities during the Holocaust. This is especially true when considering reality, something that’s always difficult to confront since it requires admission and change. Therefore, a nation’s own collective hypocrisy that’s off-limits might ensure discussions of individual hypocrisy to be taboo as well. Discussions over a leader’s past life in relation to the present can also bleed into debates about genetic and gender differences. It ignites a culture war, in that behaviors and choices were either “unnatural” or driven by a divine purpose. Challenging private behavior and human nature grinds against the idea that the individual is unconstrained by external-or internal!-restraints, a nearly unique dogma of American Exceptionalism and its brand of Social Darwinism and capitalism. Too Important Not to Discuss Democracy is too important not to discuss human nature, especially in relation to those who are supposed to represent it or entrusted with the responsibility of producing equitable policies and a peaceful, secured foreign policy. In fact, history has shown that genocides and campaigns of ethnic and political cleansing are regularly preceded by campaigns of deceit and hypocrisy, of not evaluating a leader’s private behavior-past and present. This goes for a political party as well. America is not immune. It should matter if a leader pays hush money to buy an election; wonders why nuclear weapons haven’t been used more often; appoints a National Security Advisor who thinks nuclear war is winnable; and is weaponzing the Supreme Court with likeminded people who’ve also had a history of sexual assault. The same goes for a senator who, and without one shred of evidence, believes America should attack a nation and “break regime’s back.” Democracy in Name Only Democracy will never succeed unless those who vote are prepared to evaluate and debate the human nature of those elected. Only then will they be able to choose wisely and save a nation from the divisiveness and embarrassment of impeachment. Without this trait, America will continue to elect first and then suffer or attempt to impeach. It will be ruled undemocratically through more hierarchies of unequal power, more structural injustices, and more deceitful wars. Without this trait, authoritarian behavior will get even worse until it becomes normalized. As it becomes routine, it will make it easier for politicians to get away with previously out-of-bounds actions. In other words, a leader may someday be a Bush, a Clinton, a Reagan, a Nixon, or a Johnson, who really does lock up political opponents and journalists, who really does collude with other dictators to suppress dissent, and who really does ignite World War Three. Dallas Darling is the author of Politics 501: An A-Z Reading on Conscientious Political Thought and Action, Some Nations Above God: 52 Weekly Reflections On Modern-Day Imperialism, Militarism, And Consumerism in the Context of John’s Apocalyptic Vision, and The Other Side Of Christianity: Reflections on Faith, Politics, Spirituality, History, and Peace. He is a correspondent for www.WN.com. You can read more of Dallas’ writings at www.beverlydarling.com and www.WN.com/dallasdarling. |