In the 1830's, Tocqueville noted that Americans of all ages, all stations in life, and all types of disposition are forever forming associations. He related that tendency directly to the health of the republic. Americans, as natural joiners, knew how to make free associations work. When they applied that skill to the country as a whole, America, itself, became one great civic organization. But now, in the past few decades, Americans have stopped joining up and have decided to go it alone.
Church going is down.
Labor union membership has fallen steadily for 40 years. Membership in the PTA is way down, so is membership in the League of Women Voters, the Elks Club, the Shriners, and the Masons. Membership in the Boy Scouts is off 26 percent since 1970. Membership in the Red Cross 61 percent. And, indeed, we are.