The Strange Disappearance of Civic America

The article The Strange Disappearance of Civic America, written by Robert D. Putman, describes the various possible factors in why there has been an increasing lack in social capital, along with civic engagement. The writter came up with numerous different ideas of what could have caused this to occur, and then researched which idea seemed to cause people to be less connected to one another.

Group membership and citizen’s time spent together has dramatically decreased within recent decades. Since our country has changed considerably during this time all of the changes occurring had to be looked at as possible effects for our country’s social downfall. After coming up with a list of potential suspects, Putman then asked several questions of each possibility. The questions included whether each topic was related to community trust and involvement, if the change was relevant to the specific factor, and whether each factor would be the cause or effect of civic disappearance. Each of these questions helped the author to gain a better idea about the significance of each change, and its potential in limiting social life and causing people to distrust their community.

As I continued to read the article the author kept disproving the different possibilities. Each of the changes in our culture did not seem to be directly related to fewer people participating in group activity and having less trust in the people around them. I began to believe that the author would not be able to conclude that one particular factor was the main cause of this occurrence. As we neared the end of the article Putman brought in this idea of television limited social contact between citizens. Of the many changes in our environment including people’s moving, women’s involvement, focus on education and pressure about timing, the most significant to people being less involved is the creation of new technology.

Putman concludes that the time of television’s appearance is closely related to the time in which people began to participate less. Since people are spending time watching television they are spending less time on hobbies such as reading newspapers and books. The author mentions that reading has the ability increase knowledge, as well as trust in community. The negative images presented by television shows and the news make people fear interacting with other members of community. I do agree with Putman that television has become a very important part of our community. Even when people do spend time together television is often involved which will limit their contact with one another. I feel that it is important for people to watch television less and participate in community groups and social interaction more. I feel that communicating with others not only increasing the sense of social closeness, but also deepens knowledge of ourselves, fellow community members, and our own culture.