On the Deterioration of American Society

On the Deterioration of 
American Society

By Rick Adamson

“Civic engagement is low. Lacking connection to these robust institutions (religious organizations, cultural or hobby activities, volunteer public-service groups, social or fraternal organizations), most Americans don't even know to miss them. They don't even think they're supposed to get their support, security, and purpose from the little platoons around them. They think the federal government and national politics are supposed to provide access to the good life.

The result is Americans who expect too little from their communities and too much from a distant central power.” Timothy P. Carney

Obviously, displacement and anxiety due to globalization, technology and automation have contributed to this trend but the rapid growth of the general government has contributed immensely. Carney sites one study (in his new book “Alienated America”) that claims the New Deal usurped 30 percent of Catholic charitable giving. And I once heard Franklin Graham say that most pastors do not know how to serve their communities as a result of decades of Fed Gov involvement in the war on poverty and the welfare state.

Historically, family along with local "civic" institutions helped people develop character by setting high standards, shunning them when they stumbled and helping them when they were down. But when you have a general government providing for ALL needs there is little need for these institutions and certainly no need to conform or to be shunned or shamed. Thus character development is retarded.

Another book comes to mind: “The Road to Character” by David Brooks 2015.

It is not a book about religion, however, in an interview I heard Brooks say that most all religions [and by implication: other independent "civic" institutions] provide a framework for improving moral character.

Even our immigration laws require that a person be of "good moral character" in order to become a naturalized citizen which implies that existing citizens already have "good moral character."

This has changed as "humanism" and self promotion encroached upon what Brooks calls moral reality or self-effacement that was prevalent until after WWII.

It seems that the major issues are the difference in thinking about the role of the State and of human nature. Some on the left believe that humans have inherent capabilities to be good people and that through rational thought they can create utopia. Some on the right believe that human behavior requires moderation which is best accomplished through independent “civic” institutions. The latter was the basis of the American Revolution.

I would just ask; if humans, through rational thought alone, could create utopia, why has it never happened? And if it is true that human behavior requires moderation and there are no independent “civic” institutions who/what is to be done? State control, totalitarianism/autocracy?

It seems that we are in trouble.

And That’s that!