The Hudson River School of Painting

The Hudson River School of Painting foreshadowed a nature cult that thrives in America. This is the second thing that comes up when I search for pictures of mountains. It shows vast sweeps of land and dramatic feats of nature, similar to the HRSP. Although painting is no longer a major art form, the same concept has moved to other media. The above is an excellent example of nature photography, and nature documentaries are common. As with social capital, we must be careful not confuse a change in media with a disappearance.

A Small Town in a Big City

Bellah et. al. wrote about how distracted American urban sprawl is, and how small towns could be xenophobic but at heart were focused. As I read this, I kept thinking of Fremont, a neighborhood in Seattle.

If you're walking around downtown Fremont and see barhoppers dressed as zombies, it's a perfectly normal day. Did a neon green stretch tandem bike just pull up to a stoplight? That's pretty standard. All Seattle and Portland have a reputation for quirk, but Fremont separates itself by taking this to an extreme. This isn't isolationist at all--welcoming anything and everything is one of the most open minded ways to separate yourself. More importantly, civic associations are built around this identity. The most flagrant example is the Fremont Arts Council, which every year stages a massive solstice parade.

Tocqueville's idea of social capital--though he didn't call it that--has resonated with a lot of people. Putman and Bellah et. al. both believe that people are drifting father and farther apart. Fremont is an example of the city environment that Bellah et. al. criticize remodeled into a vibrant community.

Correlation and Causation

Perhaps he addresses this in his book, but in the article Putnam's argument has a subtle flaw. He provides much evidence that involvement civic associations and positive social attributes, such as trust and economic productivity, are correlated. However, his only evidence that civic engagement causes positive social attributes is one very generic sentence without a citation:

"In fact, historical analysis suggested that these networks of organized reciprocity and civic solidarity, far from being an epiphenomenon of socioeconomic modernization, were a precondition for it."

This "suggestion" is the crux of Putnam's argument. All the evidence he presents that there is a correlation is totally irrelevant. What he needs is proof of causation, and the article lacks this.

Five Year's Time

In 1835 Alexis de Tocqueville published the first book of Democracy In America. America was an energetic place, bustling with citizens seeking fortune, reform, or just good company. In 1840 he published book two, and wrote that in a democracy "there is little energy of the soul" (703).

What happened? In five year's time, his attitude reversed entirely. Though this is the only direct contradiction I have found, most of book one praises democracy and briefly mentions it's dangers, while book two warns that democracy could degenerate into Soviet Russia and briefly mentions the benefits of democracy. Though ends by saying that the pros and cons of democracy are roughly equal, there is a major change in tone between the two books.

Patriotism

It seems to me that all wars originate from the worship of something, be it your country, your religion or your neighbor's land. The Dispossessed by Ursala le Guin refined my view of patriotism in particular. Though she agrees that absolute love of your country can inspire war, love of your country  and a feeling of home is harmless and probably healthy. De Tocqueville discusses this brand of patriotism says that Americans don't have it, and introduces a third brand which neither Ursala nor I had considered--a kind of creator's pride combined with activism--that I hear from a lot of people who call themselves patriotic. It doesn't mean supporting the current government, just a belief in your ability to change it.

"Democracy In East Asia" by Alexis de Tocqueville

On page 222, de Tocqueville writes: “There is nothing as irresistible as a tyrannical power commanding in the name of the people, for while being clothed in the moral strength derived from the will of the greatest number, it also acts with the decision, speed and tenacity of a single man.”

In a tyranny, no discussion is necessary, and decisions are quick. Why not combine this popular support, and achieve a very desirable government? This idea has obvious appeal. It also has a serious lack of truth.

Compare China and India. The explosive growth in each is similar. They pursue GDP with equal "decision, speed and tenacity." Yet India has a democracy while China has a tyranny.

De Tocqueville has had several important insights on democratic culture, but his political theory is lacking.

The Paradox Of De Tocqueville

The tricky thing about de Tocquville is his mixture of dated information and insight that spans ages. On page 61 he states that each state is almost an autonomous nation--certainly no longer true. Just a couple of pages later, he says that local governments provide citizens with a chance to enact their democratic spirit and see the process in action. Earlier today an ASG candidate came campaigning to my door. This observation is certainly still true.