"In democratic ages, on the contrary, the duties of each to all are much clearer but devoted service to any individual much rarer. The bonds of human affection are wider but more relaxed."--Tocqueville, "Of Individualism in Democracies," Democracy in America



This worries me for several reasons: 1) It resonates with my own experience--it is easy to make many friends, but more difficult to properly serve them; 2) The question of caring for the elderly is relevant here. Not only are many children choosing not to care for their ageing parents in their own home, but many parents are refusing to let their children care for them as they age. We esteem a false and unsustainable independence that forces us to reject our condition of dependence. We deprive others of the privilege of serving and grandchildren of the seeing the responsibilities that family carries.