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Good point, I guess I personally prefer communal cultures and my bias framed my view of American culture as a result. Still, you’re taking close to the No true

by ok_dad 4y ago

Good point, I guess I personally prefer communal cultures and my bias framed my view of American culture as a result. Still, you’re taking close to the No true Scotsman fallacy; if American independent culture relies on local community, and that’s broken right now due to tons of fighting and negative politics, that means our culture is basically broken. I would argue American culture doesn’t work without the situation where locals take care of locals.

lotsofpulp 4y ago
With respect to taking care of elders, or more specifically, people who need assistance due to aging, almost all cultures are “broken” simply due to demographic issues. Longer life expectancies, more medical treatments to keep people around, but not fully functional, and declining birthrates inevitably lead to a situation where sacrifices have to be made.
JumpCrisscross 4y ago
> if American independent culture relies on local community, and that’s broken right now due to tons of fighting and negative politics, that means our culture is basically broken I said Americans prize a sense of community, not that we rely on it. Not universally, at least. And yes, I’d say this is a fault line across which American culture is inconsistent, potentially broken. Cartoonishly simplified, one side says you shouldn’t have to rely on/burden your community, and so should have public options individually accessible. The other that local communities (families, towns, et cetera should step up, albeit at the cost of demanding some amount of shared pain and conformity. It’s a tough one to resolve if we insist everyone run the same playbook. I've always liked Hofstede's thoughts on the individual-collectivist spectrum [1]. [1] https://hi.hofstede-insights.com/national-culture https://hi.hofstede-insights.com/national-culture

by ok_dad 4y ago

lotsofpulp 4y ago

With respect to taking care of elders, or more specifically, people who need assistance due to aging, almost all cultures are “broken” simply due to demographic issues. Longer life expectancies, more medical treatments to keep people around, but not fully functional, and declining birthrates inevitably lead to a situation where sacrifices have to be made.

JumpCrisscross 4y ago

> if American independent culture relies on local community, and that’s broken right now due to tons of fighting and negative politics, that means our culture is basically broken I said Americans prize a sense of community, not that we rely on it. Not universally, at least. And yes, I’d say this is a fault line across which American culture is inconsistent, potentially broken. Cartoonishly simplified, one side says you shouldn’t have to rely on/burden your community, and so should have public options individually accessible. The other that local communities (families, towns, et cetera should step up, albeit at the cost of demanding some amount of shared pain and conformity. It’s a tough one to resolve if we insist everyone run the same playbook. I've always liked Hofstede's thoughts on the individual-collectivist spectrum [1]. [1] https://hi.hofstede-insights.com/national-culture https://hi.hofstede-insights.com/national-culture