In fits and starts these negative consequences have been making their way into the foreground of American consciousness and it is time that we, as a nation, take them head on. The United States is by some standards the richest nation in the world. However, economic growth should not be the goal in itself. A strong economy should allow us to fulfill needs and goals that are socially determined and social in nature. One social need that cannot be measured in economic terms is the need for community.
People explicitly state that they desire community.
They desire a sense of belonging and recognition. They want people to depend on them. In addition, researchers have found that community is a major factor in determining people's overall health and happiness. In the United States we have not thought enough about building community even though we are constantly searching for it. We put too much emphasis on the material signs of well-being.