Declining trust follows from civic withdrawal, not just causes it

Evidence

It is commonly assumed that cynicism toward government has caused our disengagement from politics, but the converse is just as likely: that we are disaffected because as we and our neighbors have dropped out, the real performance of government has suffered. As Pogo said, “We have met the enemy and he is us.” — Robert D. Putnam, Bowling Alone The Collapse and Revival…, 1215

Categorization

• XREF: connects to: American social trust dropped sharply even after accounting for rising education — Robert Putnam, Bowling Alone: America’s Declining…, 56; Divorce alone does not cause civic disengagement outside religious activity — Robert D. Putnam, Bowling Alone The Collapse and Revival…, 962; Distrust of government may follow rather than cause civic disengagement — Robert D. Putnam, Bowling Alone The Collapse and Revival…, 1215

Broader Connections

• Distrust of government may follow rather than cause civic disengagement #corroborates (0.85) — Robert D. Putnam, Bowling Alone The Collapse and Revival…, 1215