what is causing social breakdown -thoughts from JRF

A century has passed since Joseph Rowntree set up the three trusts which bear his name to “search out the underlying causes of weakness or evil in the community”. In 1904, he identified
poverty, war, slavery, intemperance, the opium trade, impurity and gambling as the “great scourges of humanity”. Joseph Rowntree recognised, that times would change and he wanted the trusts to be “free to adapt themselves to the ever-changing necessities of the nation”. This consultation revisits the concept of ‘social evil’ and explores the underlying problems that cause the most damage to British society or the most misery to its people.
The public consultation asked ‘What are today’s social evils?’
The following concerns about how we seem to live our lives were highlighted:
• A decline of community: communities are weak and people are increasingly isolated from
their neighbours, at considerable cost to well-being and happiness.
• Individualism: people tend to see themselves as individuals and not as part of wider society,
leading to selfishness and insularity.
• Consumerism and greed: an excessive desire for money and consumer goods has eclipsed
values and aspirations rooted in relationships and communities.
• A decline of values: there is no longer a set of shared values to guide behaviour.
Participants emphasised a lack of tolerance, compassion and respect shown to others.
Against this backdrop, people identified the following, more concrete, social evils:
• The decline of the family: family breakdown and poor parenting were felt to cause many
other social problems and leave young people particularly vulnerable.
• Young people as victims or perpetrators: Young people were seen as perpetrators of social
evils like anti-social behaviour, or the victims of stereotypes and limited opportunities.
• Drugs and alcohol: misuse of drugs and alcohol was viewed as the consequence and
cause of many other social problems, like family breakdown and poverty.
• Poverty and inequality: poverty was viewed as a corrosive social evil in an affluent society,
underpinning other social problems, such as homelessness and family breakdown.
• Immigration and responses to immigration: participants felt that local residents lose out to
immigrants in competition for scarce resources. Others criticised negative attitudes to and
lack of support for immigrants and thought society should be more tolerant and inclusive.
• Crime and violence: people felt that Britain is more dangerous and violent than in the past.
Child abuse and exploitation were highlighted as particularly damaging evils.
Government, media, big business and religion were believed to be responsible for these social
evils. People also emphasised personal responsibility for social evils, but thought bad choices and
damaging behaviour could be symptoms of underlying social problems, such as poverty.

Full report is on their website.

Do any of these come as a surprise, is it any thing we didn't know? The first four really highlight where government should be looking at policy. To me it shows how much we have moved away from putting people at the centre of what our society is all about.

How often do we keep in touch with friends,and relatives Do we write letters ,make an effort to see them even telephone. What about neighbours on a scale of 1-10 where would you rate yourself.Community ,mmmm when was the last time you engaged in a community activity,volunteered for anything,thought about may be getting involved in civil society.

I really thought about these things and came up short. My intentions are always good, but something seems to interfere.I have resolved to look at my priorities and may be try working on the things that do count and are not so transient.