[ohdannyboy]

Can we just all agree it's the people and ideology we don't like messing everything up here? As long as we don't get more specific we can find some common ground.

[Apocryphon]

The atomization of American society caused by the decline of church attendance, and the decline of unions.

[ohdannyboy]

Church I understand because they often function like a small-town community, but unions?

Maybe I'm missing something because I'm also not sure what your reply has to do with mine.

[Apocryphon]

Robert Putnam discusses the decline of unions leading to disconnections in the workplace in Bowling Alone, chapter 5. Though certainly, the alienation between workers accompanies other forms of atomization in American society, and is more of yet another effect than a cause.