EDITORIAL: Rules of Engagement
By Trevor K. McNeil
The Social Contract
In every society there is a basic order. The notion of an ‘anarchist society’ largely paradoxical. The primary manner in which societies are organized is through a set of norms and protocols agreed to by the members of that society. It is what Rousseau referred to as ‘the social contract.’ Anyone who takes part in the organized society is assumed to have agreed to the social contract. Which Ted Yoho presumably did when joining congress.
Elephants All the Way Down
Sadly, we all know what happens when you assume. Despite the presumption of agreement, there are always those who operate outside the social contract yet still remain within society. Banishment and execution of dissidents having rather gone out of style in many nations. So the disaffected and dismissive not only remain in society but in some cases rise to the very top of it. Such as the current leaders of Brazil, Turkey, Russia and the United States of America. Being an ‘outlier’ becoming something of an advantage in terms of gaining power in the 21st century. The most ready explanation for how a reality show host so monumentally stupid that he thinks the Spanish Flu happened in 1917 and Thomas Jefferson fought in the Civil War, became president.
No Core Meaning
The primary issue with the social contract is that it was devised by humans and is only as good as the humans involved in any society. There seems to be no core meaning to things or the manner in which things are supposed to be done. That is not to say they have no meaning, just that the meanings people have are fictional rather than inherent. Rather than the way things ought to be done, the social contract lays out how things are assumed to be done. The structure of society being humans all the way down, to borrow a phrase from Bertrand Russell. Sadly, Ted Yoho is one such human.
The Unexpected
The main reason that everyone was so shocked by what happened between Yoho and Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez was not actually the words he used to describe her. Both expletives used on a daily basis in all sorts of context. The main cause of the shock was hearing a congressman direct the slurs at a professional colleague. The presumption that men like Yoho “are better than that” because they hold elected office should be an expectation. At least while they are at work. Yoho was not only being rude and misogynist, but he was also shattering the expected protocol.
A Reality Problem
Yoho said other things, both during the confrontation and after. His tacit denials and defenses hung mostly on the notion that he can’t be sexist because he has daughters is laughable and absurd. A kin to trying to claim that Hitler wasn’t really anti-Semitic because he was half Jewish. Or a racist white person refereeing to their one ‘black friend.’ The fact that they feel the need to point this out speaking volumes about their true thoughts on the subject.
The Age Of Trump
Yoho allegedly asked Ocasio-Cortez “do you really think people are shooting and killing each other because they’re hungry?” Yes Ted, that is exactly what I think. Mostly because food insecurity and the desire to get it even by illegal or violent means has been a factor in human society dating back to the cave era. It is obvious that we have a man elected to office that is ignorant of basic history and sociology. Though no surprise in the age of Trump.
A Peek Into Our Culture
Representative Yoho has used sexual vulgarities in an attempt to marginalize AOC. Yoho revealed himself a misogynist whose view is that of a man who feels comfortable disrespecting and degrading women. In a country where domestic abuse is on the rise and there is no place for public disrespect for women, certainly not in the halls of Congress.
