America’s Fractured Foundations: Why Trust and Community Are Disappearing

Trust is the glue that holds societies together. Yet, in America, trust in government has plummeted from 75% in 1958 to below 30% since 2007. Marriage rates have fallen to historic lows, with only 5.1 marriages per 1,000 people in 2020, lower than during the Great Depression.

These declines in social cohesion are accompanied by rising political polarization, fueled by fragmented media and social media echo chambers. Young adults increasingly live with their parents, and community participation in religious and civic groups has diminished, contributing to loneliness and isolation.

Such fragmentation threatens democratic institutions and collective action. The blog argues for urgent efforts to rebuild trust, strengthen communities, and reform media ecosystems to heal divisions and ensure a resilient democracy.

Readers interested in the intersection of social trends and political stability will find detailed discussions in the book and related sociopolitical analyses. 4 3