Civic participation on the decline

One of the more disturbing trends in modern society is the startling decline in civic participation in our communities.

There is no question the problem exists in communities of all sizes, but it seems more measureable in rural areas where "everyone knows everyone".

Through a lifetime of participating in a wide range of civic endeavors, we clearly see the downward trend in attendance and support for civic clubs, chambers of commerce, public meetings and benevolent organizations. Of course, the pattern also is evident in church attendance.

We recently were present for a seminar that involved both younger residents of our area and, shall we say, more "mature" participants. One of the older persons present asked the younger group about their position on participating in civic clubs and other similar organization.

It was as though it was something the younger set had never even considered. Let's just say it wasn't on their radar. Finally, one of the young women said there was not much interest in such activity because of the "pressures" of work and raising a family.

The older group in attendance seemed to look at each other with a common question -- "did we not have pressures of work and family when we were young?" That is not to denigrate the response of the young woman, because we are certain it was sincere and valid in many ways. But the difference in generational perspective on this issue was stark.

The lack of participation by younger people in a variety of civic efforts is indeed a sad reality. The negative effect on community cannot be understated. Many civic groups in our society are just hanging on by threads, bound together by a declining number of older members.

On an unfortunately negative note, we essentially agree with one older observer who commented on this issue several years ago. He said one will hear lots of reasons from citizens as to why they don't participate in civic efforts. But he contends there is one major factor -- "people are too interested in leisure-time activities to give back to their community," he said.

"DeToqueville writing about American democracy in the 1800s credited the involvement of ordinary citizens in a wide variety of organizations such as the PTA, bridge clubs, Jaycees and Kiwanis as one of the reasons for the success of our democracy," Iowa State sociology professor Terry L. Besser wrote in 1997.

"Today, however, America is experiencing a general erosion of organizational memberships and civic engagement. Studies using time diaries, where people record everything they do in the course of a day, indicate that people spend about one fourth less time today on informal socializing and visiting as compared to 1965. They devote roughly half as much time to clubs and organizations as they did 30 years ago. Memberships in a broad range of voluntary organizations like the Red Cross, League of Women Voters, PTA and Elks have declined from 25 to 50 percent in the last 20 years."

That observation came more than 10 years ago, but we are confident the trends he cited are even stronger as we enter a new decade of American life.

Our small communities need all the help they can get -- and voluntary civic participation has been a positive component over the years. It is a shame to see assistance to one's fellow man and community decline to this degree.

We would like to end on a positive note, but we must say there is little evidence this situation will turn around any time soon. On a personal level, we have tried to encourage younger people to get involved, but with very limited success. The community service concept just doesn't seem to resonate.

--REK