Echoes of Self: Confronting Hyper-Individualism and Materialism in America

Introduction

The erosion of civility and community values that once formed the bedrock of American society has been mirrored by the rise of politicians, judges, and business leaders who champion hyper-individualism, greed, and materialism under the guise of pseudo-American values. These values, far from being genuinely American, are more akin to the adolescent, poorly thought-out, morally bankrupt principles espoused by Ayn Rand. After witnessing several recent judicial decisions by unprincipled U.S. Supreme Court Justices, state court justices, and local judges, as well as unhinged remarks and rants by national, state, and local politicians and candidates, I was inspired to write the lyrics to “Echoes of Self” to critique these troubling trends and the philosophies that are leading us astray.

The Loss of Civility and Community

Historically, American values have been rooted in a sense of community, mutual respect, and collective responsibility. The concept of “we the people” signifies a collective identity and shared purpose. Granted, we as a nation started out poorly by excluding many people from our great promise based on color and sex, and have periodically excluded others based on national origin. But we have made great efforts to overcome these national deficiencies and to meet the American promise for all Americans.

However, in recent decades, and most especially in recent years, there has been a noticeable shift towards celebrating hyper-individualism and personal gain at the expense of community and civility. This shift is evident in the rhetoric of certain politicians and business leaders who glorify self-interest and material success while disregarding the broader societal impacts of their actions.

The Rise of Hyper-Individualism and Materialism

The ascension of figures like Donald Trump, Elon Musk, and Peter Thiel epitomizes this new wave of hyper-individualism. These individuals, along with their enabling politicians, promote a worldview that prioritizes personal success and wealth accumulation over community welfare and ethical and moral considerations. This mindset is often cloaked in pseudo-American values, presenting themselves as champions of freedom and opportunity. In reality, these values are foreign to the traditional American ethos of shared responsibility and social cohesion. Feigned outrage over manufactured crises and boogeymen distracts from issues both real and critical to the health of the commonweal.

The Influence of Ayn Rand’s Philosophy

The philosophy of Ayn Rand, particularly her emphasis on “rational self-interest” (the greed is good society) and minimal government, has played a significant role in shaping this new value system. Rand’s ideas, which celebrate the individual’s pursuit of their own happiness above all else, have found a resurgence among the billionaire class and their supporters. However, these ideas are fundamentally flawed and contrary to both traditional American values as well as Catholic social doctrine (which I mention as having been raised Catholic but find so many “conservative” American Catholic bishops and “believers” abandoning in the MAGA era). It has saddened me that even some Catholic friends have embraced Ms Rand’s adolescent, mis-guided philosophy of greed and self-interest.

Critique of Ayn Rand’s Philosophy

Ayn Rand’s Objectivism prioritizes individual achievement and self-interest, often at the expense of empathy and community. Here are key points of critique:

1. Lack of Empathy and Social Responsibility: Rand’s philosophy dismisses the importance of empathy and altruism, viewing them as weaknesses. In contrast, traditional American values and Catholic social doctrine emphasize the importance of caring for the less fortunate and fostering a sense of community.
2. Hyper-Individualism: Rand’s extreme individualism undermines the social fabric by promoting a “survival of the fittest” mentality. This is antithetical to the principles of solidarity and the common good that are central to Catholic teaching and the American democratic tradition.
3. Minimal Government: Rand’s advocacy for minimal government intervention fails to address systemic inequalities and the need for collective action to support the vulnerable. In contrast, both American civic values and Catholic social teaching recognize the role of government in promoting justice and protecting the rights of all citizens.
4. Economic Inequality: Rand’s acceptance of economic inequality as a natural outcome of individual differences ignores the structural barriers that prevent equal opportunity. Addressing these barriers through governmental policies is essential for a just society. It is clear from various economic analyses that income and wealth have become unconscionably concentrated in the hands of very few individuals. This cannot be explained by merit alone; the system has been rigged with billionaires essentially buying politicians who write laws that favor the extremely wealthy, allowing them to avoid taxes that others cannot.

Inspiration for “Echoes of the Self”

“Echoes of the Self” is a reflection of my deep concerns about American civil society. It was directly inspired by watching recent speeches of Mr. Trump and Mr. Vance, reading the words of Mr. Musk, reading about how Mr. Thiel financed the election of a U.S. senator from Ohio, and reading multiple recent judicial decisions where the words in statutes or constitutions were disregarded when judges had an ideological agenda to fulfill.

Conclusion

Through “Echoes of Self,” I aim to highlight the dangers of adopting Ayn Rand’s philosophy as a guiding principle for our society. Perhaps as a society, we will find our way back to the values of civility, community, and shared responsibility, fostering a more compassionate and just society. And, perhaps, I will have time to produce a more interesting video to accompany this song, but for now, this will have to suffice.