CONVERSATION WITH THE PUBLISHER

People are getting less involved in civic affairs these days

Robert Putnam of Harvard University finds significance in the number of card games people play every year in America. More precisely, he's concerned about the number of card games not being played. Last year, he says, Americans played some 600 million card games, but the number is falling by 60 million games a year.

The card table is one place where Americans discuss politics, policy and such local issues as "curbside pickup," Putnam says.

So opportunities for Americans to discuss politics are on the decline, precisely because Americans are spending less time playing cards, and less time interacting in other ways.

But doing things "alone" is increasing. For example, playing video games is on the rise, Putnam said last month at the Winter Forum of the Great Cities Institute at the University of Illinois at Chicago. Putnam wrote a widely read article, "Bowling Alone," in 1995 that has become a catalyst for discussions around the nation about a decline in civic participation in America. The article got its catchy title from research findings that while the number of people bowling is increasing, the number of people in bowling leagues is down.

Many are concerned about low voter turnout, declining memberships in organizations and a general decline in social participation in many segments of society.

Putnam's concern is that less civic participation is leading to a loss of "social capital," and that this is harmful for democracy. He concludes, however, that instead of lamenting that century-old avenues for civic engagement are declining in popularity, we might look at the next 10 to 15 years as an opportunity to invent new ways to build and maintain social capital. That is what happened at the turn of the 20th century, when many civic organizations were born to meet specific needs.

Hats off to Illinois Issues' readers! I asked two months before last year's March primary, for predictions about who would be elected governor. I promised not to reveal your answers until after the election. You did well: 52 percent predicted George Ryan; 29 percent predicted Glenn Poshard. There was little optimism even then about the other three viable candidates: John Schmidt, 9 percent; Roland Burris, 7 percent; and Jim Burns, 1 percent.

Two quick Illinois Issues' Board notes. First, our condolences to those who knew former board member James Worthy, who died November 4.

Also, I am happy to report that Philip J. Rock has agreed to serve as our board chair for another year. Since leaving the Senate, his efforts to work for the betterment of Illinois have not decreased. 

Illinis Issues January 1999 / 3