I recently finished Charles Murray's most recent work, Coming Apart: The State of White America, 1960-2010. Much of what I what I read was a preverbal slap in the face, an abrupt andrude awakening to truth. In his study, Murray provides data that suggests a shift the American population has made since the 60's, predominantly within the white population. One point that I have been stuck on is this: that the white population has moved from social gatherings and club membership to becoming all-inclusive hermits, fearful of the world around them and full of distrust for the general masses. Consider these questions:
When social trust breaks down, social capital breaks down across the board. With that in mind, consider this set of three questions that the GSS (Center for Strategic Studies) has asked almost ever survey since 1972:
- Would you say that most of the time people try to be helpful, or that they are just looking out for themselves?
- Do you think most people would try to take advantage of you if they got the chance, or would they try to be fair?
- Generally speaking, would you say that people can be trusted or that you can't be too careful in dealing with people?
(Charles Murrary, Coming Apart: The State of White America, 1960-2010, Location 4050)
Every time I read this section, it stung like the bitter cold of January on my face. Is there any faith in our fellow mankind? Most people would say that there is not need to put faith in their fellow man because "they are looking out for themselves," "will take advantage of you if given the chance," so really, "you can't be too careful." We have shifted from community and fraternity to skeptical and distrustful.
How would you answer these questions? Post your comments here.
