Response to Putnam

Mark Chaves from the sociology department at the University of Arizona spends most of his article "Are We 'Bowling Alone'--and Does it Matter" agreeing with Putman but he does so in a rather roundabout way.

He acknowledges the fact that the numbers do show a decline in civic engagement over the years. However, he says it's more of a shift than a decline. He says to look at examples like churches. They're official membership is in decline but the number of people who par take in activities such as small groups have increased.

He primarily blames the shift in civic engagement primarily on a shift in generations. Today's youth simply aren't involved enough. Without this development of habit at an early age (yay de Tocquevielle!, they are less likely to become engaged in civic activities as adults.

Chaves other reasons civic engagement has declined or shifted: television watching, suburbanization and pressures of time and money. He never fully explains TV as the culprit but we can only guess: TV stops people from getting out and doing stuff. Suburbanization creates commuting time which prevents people from being involved in activities they may be interested in. Pressures of time and money doesn't really need to be explained. We simply are overcome by the need to work and earn a living that things such as volunteering (and sleeping and eating if you're talking to a college student)are the first "extras" to go.

All together, between Putman and Chaves, these articles made me want to get up and do something. I was really active and involved in several volunteer organizations in high school but since coming to college I haven't find my "niche" and these articles made me want to get out and find it quick. I miss being involved.

One more interesting comment Putman made that Chaves points out, is that evidence alone is not enough. Just like we discussed in class on Monday, alone, individuals are weak but associations together are strong. One piece of evidence is find and dandy and a fun trivia fact, but in order to prove a point you need a whole array of interconnected pieces of evidence.