What about us?

At this point, it is worth taking some time to reflect whether our own experiences align with what Putnam has described. After all, Putnam’s work was published 15 years ago, and it’s very possible that things might have changed since then. But even if the trajectory of modern social trends have remained mostly the same, it is worth considering whether our own experience matches that trajectory.

• How active are we politically? Do we vote? Have we ever volunteered for a campaign or run for office? Would we consider doing that?

• Are we involved in any civic organizations? If so, do we actually go to meetings, or are we just on a mailing list?

• Are we active in church or other religious organization?

• How often do we get together with friends for a meal, at their place or ours, or even at a local restaurant?

• Do we know the names of our neighbors? Do they know ours?

• When we walk down the street, do we believe that most of the people around us are basically trustworthy, or do we tend to carry around caution and suspicion in our daily interactions?

To whatever extent we find ourselves reluctantly admitting that our own stock of social capital isn’t all that it could be, it is worth asking the question, WHY? Why is it that our own investments and returns of social capital are less than we might hope for? Why might they be declining?

Photo credit: FreeImages.com/Bud Adams

In my own situation, I have just returned from living and working overseas, and I came back to the United States with visions of quite a bit of community involvement. I wanted to be active in local politics. I wanted to build out a good, strong social network. I wanted to invest in some local civic organizations. But that’s probably not going to happen – at least not to the extent I had dreamed. I just got a new job, and my commute is about 1 ½ hours each way. So, I find myself getting up and out before the sun, and returning home late in the evening. I just want spend some time with family, maybe write a blog posting for this blog, and then head for bed! There’s just not much room left for investing in social capital.

How about you?