Capitalism vs. Community

Is this an erosion of who we are (or should be) as people?

I guess we can take this from a couple of different perspectives, so let me go high-level upfront. A common argument you hear, in memes and elsewhere, is that capitalism (a vague economic structure defined differently by 92 out of 100 random people) contributes to the decline of community (a vague concept that can be measured in different ways, but most essays will find a way to involve “Bowling Alone” in said essay). I think the central principle is that if you have to work all the time (or claim to) just to maintain x-level quality of life, you have less time to build true bonds. That's definitely somewhat true. I believe there are stats about advanced economies and loneliness, and some quite robust stats at that.

The bigger picture on why American society is lonely, or rather why some people are lonely, is far more complicated than just “capitalism.” It resides at the intersection of many factors, including: