ASP Principle 3—Community
This is the third in a series of member perspectives on the American Solidarity Party Principles.
Humans are created to live in communities, and the proper organization of our communities is necessary for the flourishing of our societies. Society consists of various institutions and communities, like families, governments, and religious groups, whose primary authority over their own affairs should be respected and defended. Higher levels of government should serve to empower and support lower levels of authority, rather than replace them.
No man is an island. We are made to be born into and live alongside a community composed of other human beings. We are created to be social creatures. When this is forgotten, our very society becomes inhuman.
In American society in recent years, this has sadly begun to happen. Over the past several decades, there has been a steady decline in church attendance, union memberships, bowling leagues, and a number of other socializing scenes. In 1990, 3% of Americans said they had no close friends, and 27% said they had three or fewer close friends. In 2021, 12% of Americans said they had no close friends, and 49% said they have three or fewer.
While suicide rates have declined globally, America has seen suicide rates increase by 35% since the 1990s. It is well-established that loneliness and social isolation are significant risk factors for suicide and self harm. The increases we are experiencing are likely in part due to increased rates of social isolation. Loneliness is killing people today, yet we seldom talk about it.
Social isolation harms the elderly, in particular. It increases mortality rates amongst those over 65 by 91%, more than morbid obesity and physical inactivity. The only comparable increase in mortality is brought about by lifelong smoking. That is how deadly living alone is. Living in a community is a fundamental human need. In its absence, people die.
Surgeon General Vivek Murthy issued an advisory on what he called an epidemic of loneliness and isolation, saying to the same effect: “Loneliness is far more than just a bad feeling—it harms both individual and societal health. It is associated with a greater risk of cardiovascular disease, dementia, stroke, depression, anxiety, and premature death. The mortality impact of being socially disconnected is similar to that caused by smoking up to 15 cigarettes a day, and even greater than that associated with obesity and physical inactivity. And the harmful consequences of a society that lacks social connection can be felt in our schools, workplaces, and civic organizations, where performance, productivity, and engagement are diminished.”
It is difficult to overstate how isolating our present society is, or how devastating a culture of loneliness is to the mental health of everyone. What is worse still, a culture of loneliness is self-perpetuating. The lonelier people feel, the less likely they are to initiate social activities. The less people initiate social activities, the lonelier even more people feel.
Our associations, in the presence of decreased ties to neighborhoods and organized religion, have become largely work-centered. There is no third space, outside the home and workplace, where people regularly and repeatedly interact with each other in a social setting. If we are going to heal as a nation, we must restore this aspect of our lives. While we sorely need national leadership on the importance of community, it starts with each and every one of us, in our communities.
We must consciously rededicate and constantly remind ourselves to become a social people. Go to church. Join a union. Start a book club. Invite someone new in your life to go to the movies with you. Our national illness is loneliness, and the only cure is friendliness.
We also can advocate for change in our local communities. We have to recognize how detrimental to our society it is that many, if not most, neighborhoods are unwalkable nightmares that create a society dependent on cars. Walkable neighborhoods and towns with widespread public transit create a more communal environment.
Many people largely understand society to be an inert system of structures with particular, impersonal functions. This is strictly false. Society is much more like a family, composed of deeply (and unavoidably) human structures with quasi-personal roles. The first place, the actual family, is the most intimate. Here, we live in the same household; here, confidences are shared; here, punishment is carried out for even the most minor of offenses. The family is the building block which underlies all of human society. The second place, that of religious institutions, nonprofits, and so forth, has quasi-maternal duties, such as nourishing the physical and spiritual needs of the people. The third place, that of the state, has quasi-paternal duties, including providing for the needy, defending our society against internal and external threats, promoting a common moral vision, and meting out justice. The state, in particular, has the duty to support the other components of society, rather than replace them. All three are vital for a healthy community.
It is my fervent prayer that the enormous significance of community is recognized. We cannot flourish as individuals unless it is. The community exists alongside and prior to the individual. In recognition of that: do little, small, unasked for favors; check in on others; invite acquaintances places; start clubs. Then, and only then, will this horrible sickness begin to fade.
The American people must begin to remember this lost wisdom. In the absence of a common life together, we are not a community; we are merely a collection of individuals who happen to live alongside one another. It is high time that we begin to live in communities again.