Midterm Response

Bowling Alone Response

• Social capital refers to the relationship between a community and its individuals, emphasizing on honesty. There can be good social capital networks, for example a neighborhood watch group; each neighbor contributes in order to make their neighborhood safe, and in response each household benefits. However, their could be a negative social capital like the KKK. This group is brought together to achieve a common goal with every members contributions, but the group is seen immoral to most people. (p.22)
• The problem of leisure is associated with the lack of participation is activities, clubs, etc. which arose after WWII. This is a problem because people are less involved and the quality of social capital decreases when the contributions of individuals to their community decrease. 
• The decrease of social interactions are due to a lack of involvement in the community because not many citizens are as concerned (p.25).
• Bridging social capital is inclusive and external because to bridge social capital means to reach outward to an external community, group, person, etc. in order to increase the benefits of another social capital network and inclusive to everyone. Bridging social capital generates border identities and reciprocity. Bonding social capital is exclusive and internal, referring to a specific social network improving. Bonding social capital is the "glue" whereas bridging social capital is the "WD-40." Bonding is very tight within a network and doesn't leave much room to add or build upon whereas bridging isn't as tight and leaves room for flexibility within the system.