When I saw this photo online, I thought it was a joke conjured by some right-wing media organization using AI. I didn’t know who the person was nor the setting in which the alleged photo took place.
So, I took the responsible route and did some investigating. Turns out the photo is real.
It’s congresswoman Katie Porter of Southern California’s 47th congressional district during the 2023 congressional vote for Speaker of the House. Congresswoman Porter has admitted in interviews she was indeed reading The Subtle Art of Not Giving a F*ck during the laborious voting process.
Written by blogger Mark Manson, the author conveys the book as a self-help guide. In it he promotes a “suck it up” approach to life, asserting that trying to “turn lemons into lemonade” is a joke and people should simply not care—be belligerent, be petulant, who gives a *%@#.
But I now know why congresswoman Porter was reading the book—she was simply following its instructions and trying to make a point.
And that’s the focus of this post. Here’s a member of Congress, in full view of the cameras, deciding the best role model she can be to her constituents and millions of other Americans (including young, aspiring students who desire a career in politics) is a belligerent, petulant, who gives a *%@# person. She’s highly educated, some would say privileged (Phillips Academy, Yale University, Harvard Law School). She’s smart, having also been a Law Professor at several universities.
But does education, “privilege”, even intelligence equate to wisdom?
I don’t know what pain congresswoman Porter has experienced in life that would cause her to appear so infantile, but it’s not a good look.
Lest you think I’m picking on the political “Left,” there’s also this photo of congresswoman Marjorie Taylor Green yelling “Liar!” at President Biden during his 2023 State of the Union Address. As much as I appreciate watching the British House of Commons with all its give-and-take, there remains a level of decorum there that’s clearly not evident in Marjorie Taylor Greene’s (and others) outbursts.
Like congresswoman Porter, Green is educated and successful. And like Porter, I don’t know what pain she has experienced in life that would cause her to appear so infantile. It’s not a good look.
Lest you think I’m picking on “white women” in Congress, the list of petulant, uncaring, belligerent, who-gives-a-*%@# folks in politics is comprised of all sexes and ethnicities, Democrats, Republicans, and Independents, and is growing rapidly. Frankly, it’s embarrassing.
But these “role models” seem not to care. They live to feed the fringe and make a name for themselves. They believe that being childish works because the fringe they feed affirms their behavior like children cheering on a playground fight.
And yes, millions of people can still be a “fringe.”
From its earliest inception, structured politics has always been a dirty game, and always will be. Power in the hands of imperfect humans is inevitably fraught with danger. I’m reminded of the line from Tom Clancy’s The Hunt for Red October, where Jeffrey Pelt, National Security Advisor to the President, says to Jack Ryan:
“Listen, I'm a politician, which means I'm a cheat and a liar, and when I'm not kissing babies, I'm stealing their lollipops. But it also means I keep my options open.”
Politicians are typically very pragmatic, and often have thick skin and calloused hearts. While political nastiness is nothing new (certainly not in American politics), until recently there was a broader sense of maturity, dignity, and intellectual prowess. Are the days of Democrat Speaker of the House Tip O’Neil and Republican President Ronald Reagan having fierce public debates then ending the day with a beer together gone?
Let’s stop and think. Are immature, brash role models really what we want for the next generation? Is pettiness and vulgarity really bringing our country together to solve issues? Or have we moved beyond the point of no return into tribal warfare, reveling in the bloody defeat of our enemies? If this is okay with you, I strongly encourage you to take a moment and ponder:
Is it possible these infantile politicians have made us believe their way is the only way? Are we the fools? Have we been egged on in a playground scuffle?
Just wondering…
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