Mediating Institutions

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Pages: 4

The current decline in mediating institutions is unsustainable because it creates a dangerous cycle of greater federal government power and individualism and weakens the very institutions that are necessary for creating a free society. Without middle institutions, people are left without local, societal associations to fall back on. People now instead turn to government solutions instead of institutions such as family, work, faith, and community. Increasingly, society can be viewed as containing only individuals and a state (Levin 100). This is especially difficult for low-income Americans as they are more isolated economically, culturally, and socially than in the past (Levin 126). Disconnect from the mediating structure is one of the main reasons for entrenched poverty in America (Levin 132). A continued loss of mediating institutions will prolong and worsen this cycle of poverty. The effects of hyper-individualism and consolidation are not only felt by low-income individuals. Society is more fractured and divided than ever. Many people are isolated and disconnected from the …show more content…
Religion is the definitive soul-forming institution in a free society (Levin 204). Religious commitments cultivate several characteristics that are essential for a person living in a society of liberty. By developing qualities such as responsibility, sympathy, fairness, and morality, people can align their wants with their duties. These characteristics help shape people to be free. It offers a “direct challenge to the ethic of the age of fracture,” which America is currently in (Levin 204). For these reasons, religious institutions should be protected and valued, yet they are under attack every day (Levin 205). The current trend in faith and religious practices is alarming and cannot continue without some