Cartoon 822: Miscalculation

Culture changes with a societies demographics.  

Throughout most of American history families were collectives and multi-generational. They were larger and composed of uncles, aunts, and cousins living in proximity. It was “the clan” sharing a common identity and unity of purpose. Efforts were often pooled and resources shared.

Times change. Americans begin to spread out seeking opportunities away from their traditional sequestered environments.  The relational ties with their relatives grew tenuous. Other institutions also failed, such as the two traditional biggest outside of the family. The military through lack of more universal service and the church embracing individualism. As a result, the psychology changed from being part of a group to being alone and self-dependent. This is the genesis of the libertarian attitude today. Every man for himself, only the strong survive and prosper.

This mindset has stained America. It is why our politics do not embrace the common good. We have lost the role models for collective social action. Therefore Americans are easily swayed that such action is an anathema and is demonized as "socialism". But we were all socialist once.