A greater percentage of Americans are in the labor force than ever before. Likewise, in the 1950s, for every worker there were two nonworkers. Today, however, there is barely more than one nonworker for each worker. One income nowadays supports fewer dependents. In 1979 married men averaged 2,104 hours per year at work, married women 969.
Parents are less likely to have the time or energy to spend in active involvement with their kids.
So while TV may be a major culprit in causing growing isolation and fear, the deeper cause may be increased work and the decline of leisure. Vice President Gore is right. We need smart development, we need open spaces. His critics are also right when they say the federal government is way behind on this issue and Gore's plan doesn't go far enough. When America's cities were built they typically grew in haphazard ways and development planning, such as it was, was dominated by commercial and industrial interests.