Big deal, some may say. As long as those needs are filled, what difference does it make by whom? But it does make a difference. According to Messmore:
“With fewer and less significant tasks to perform, the social role of local institutions such as families and religious congregations has become weaker. The result is a modern-day ‘crisis of community’ among lonely Americans. Drawing on evidence including nearly 500,000 interviews over the past quarter-century, Professor Robert Putnam argues that people have become increasingly disconnected from family, friends and neighbors, impoverishing their lives and communities.”
And it’s not just a matter of loneliness. Messmore continues:
“Personal bonds and fellowship fostered within participatory groups provide more than just warm feelings; they foster trust and social connections that have been linked with improved child welfare, higher educational performance, lower crime rates, and better physical and mental health. Moreover, the existence of a diversity of authoritative local institutions is an indispensable safeguard against government tyranny.”
Which is why we should regard much of today’s political rhetoric with suspicion. It sounds nice when Sen. Hillary Clinton says, “We’re all in this together,” but a dangerous notion lurks behind that chummy phrase. Likewise, when Sen. Barack Obama says his “starting point as president is to restore that sense that we are in this together,” we should think twice before nodding at this seemingly banal statement.
Yes, we are “all in this together,” but we need to teach our children to put that thought in its proper context. The connection that matters is not what exists between each American and some man or woman sitting in a distant state house or an office in Washington. It’s the connection between us and our neighbors. That’s where true belonging -- and, not coincidentally, genuine, American-style liberty -- can be found.