Editorial, 1/8: Do civic duty, to keep the republic

by the Journal Star Editorial Board

Those in the vibrant prime of their lives are accustomed to tuning out when crotchety old geezers start complaining about the younger generation. But what if those silver-haired oldsters who gather at mid-morning coffee and early bird specials are right? AmericaÕs elders have a lot of data that confirm the impression that the sense of civic duty has slipped in recent decades. This is a trend that should worry every age category. A story late last year reported on the findings of an Associated Press-GFK poll that found Americans — especially the young — feel less obligation to fulfill some of the civic-minded obligations of citizenship, such as volunteering, serving on a jury, reporting crime, knowing English, and keeping informed about public issues. The poll showed that only voting and volunteering were seen as important as they were back in 1984. Even those positive findings seem shaky. Federal officials reported that volunteering in 2013 was at 25.4 percent of the population, the lowest figure since the first measurement in 2002. Only 36 percent of eligible voters turned out last November, the lowest figure since World War II. Last month, the annual report from the National Conference on Citizenship showed Òbroad declineÓ in 16 of the 20 indicators it measures, such as communicating with family and friends, trusting neighbors and participating in civic, religious and recreational organizations. The loss of social capital and growing isolation, which might be exacerbated by technology, was captured more than a decade ago by scholar Robert Putnam in the memorable phrase that Americans increasingly go Òbowling alone.Ó Some observers think that Americans view themselves more as consumers than participants when it comes to government. A good citizen will Ògrapple with complexity, make sense of it and weigh dichotomous outcomes before choosing a solution,” wrote Thomas J. Scott in Truthout. A consumer will seek instant gratification, defining democracy not was Òwe,Ó but Òme.Ó ~1@BODYURL[id=114jbcurl1243]@