[kelseyfrog]

> I'm not entirely sure who pushed for these changes.

If a historical analysis isn't your thing(and I get that), the next best thing anyone can do is look for it in the present. Anywhere we see people pressing for the individualization of responsibility, assuming the inability of groups of people to affect positive change, or the "I'm not responsible for anyone but myself" attitude, we see a person with this mindset realizing a reality where everyone is more distant, alone, and lonely.

[seneca]

I think this is off-base. Not being a political Collectivist has very little to do with participation in civil society. Americans were far more Individualist in the past and had a much stronger civil society. Conservatives also tend to be more Individualist, but are also more involved in civil society, mostly through churches.

This opinion just doesn't reflect reality.

As always, the best analysis of the decline of civil society is Robert Putnam's Bowling Alone (and his subsequent research to supplement). It's a bit academic, and sometimes biased, but it spells the issues out quite well