The Next Game

Reading Putnam's, "Bowling Alone" for Wednesday was an interesting task.  At this point, I wish that I was able (granted, I do not really have the time to invest in it, but it would be helpful) to read his entire book based off of the responses to his essay.   I feel that he brought up a lot of curious points and connections to Toqueville's book as it applies to today, however, Putnam leaves many questions unanswered and many of his points unexplained.  Despite these difficulties within the reading, I felt as if "Bowling Alone" brought to light one of the very real issues in modern American Society.  I agree completely with his assessment that Americans are less involved in civic life than in the past, and that there is a serious danger in Americans becoming passive to the government, community, and each other, and that it would be much to our benefit to revive interest in community organizations.  However, I think the main item which I drew from this article was the very question which Putnam does not answer.  As he says, "Something has happened in Americsa in the last two or three decades to diminish civil engagement and social connectedness.  What could that something be?" (Putnam, 7).   Putnam offers several plausible reasons, however, he does not have a definitive answer or any real solutions.   This made me think about what we could do as individual citizens to help revive civil life in America.  These are the ideas I had.
      First, there is the ability of the individual to join associations and develop an interest and passion in supporting the community, government, and people which make them up.  It is extremely difficult for anyone to force others to do things, but I personally could make more of an effort to be engaged.
     Then there is the question of how to do the more difficult task: make civic engagement and trust a part of culture again.  I agree with the author of our next reading, "The Good Society," by Robert Bellah that education could certainly play a larger role in encouraging citizens.   I know personally that my pre-college education did not do much to teach about civic engagement and what Putnam calls, "social capital."  If elementary through high school education integrated ways of being involved and showing kids the joy and togetherness that can come from organizations by using some of their field trips (there are enough of them, aren't there? to some places that aren't very educational, i.e. the pumpkin patch) to go to associations and participate.  As far as I know, I never had to take any classes on citizenship.  It is kind of interesting how education is supposed to prepare us to be good citizens, yet the issue is never directly addressed.

Sadly, however, these are the only two ideas I have right now.  Maybe future readings will allow me to generate some more ideas.