"The Foul Reign of 'Self-Reliance'" by Benjamin Anastas

"The Foul Reign of 'Self-Reliance'" by Benjamin Anastas discusses the idea of "self-reliance" proposed by Ralph Waldo Emerson and how it is effecting society. The essay opens with a narrative of the author's experience in English class at his private school, and the (egotistically-portrayed) teacher who first introduced him to Emerson. This was also the beginning of Anastas's aversion to the essayist's ideas. He goes on to describe how the idea of "self-reliance" has negatively impacted American society, especially in politics and government because of the self-centered view that it presents. Anastas quotes Emerson on how one should trust themselves and not conform to society. He then makes an allusion to an advertisement for Apple that features a poem called "Here's to the Crazy Ones" which, he contests, reflects how the view that being a nonconformist has become so important in American society that the actions one actually takes have little meaning. Anastas writes "'A man is to carry himself in the presence of all opposition,' Emerson advises, 'as if every thing were titular and ephemeral but he.' If this isn't the official motto of the 112th Congress of the United States, well, it should be. The gridlock, grandstanding, rule manipulating, and inability to compromise aren't symptoms of national decline. We're simply coming into our own as Emerson's republic," (Anastas 4).  With the adoption of self-reliance, he explains, comes self-importance and self-centeredness. In our politics, it has been detrimental by preventing compromise and inhibiting anything from being done. By using illustrations from our modern society and contesting the points Emerson makes in his essays, Benjamin Anastas argues his point. There are many more current examples that he could have, and maybe should have, used, however, he still achieves his purpose of demonstrating how the idea of self-reliance as proposed by Emerson is harming our society.

Least Productive Congress in Decades: Anastas argues that the 112th Congress is quarrelsome and ineffective because of the way the politicians embody Emerson's ideas. (image from tv.msnbc.com)