When was the last time you walked a factory floor? Dined at a Denny's or an IHOP?
If you're like most of us, the answer is never - or it's been a very long time. Those are just a couple of questions posed in a film produced by Michael Smerconish called "The Mingle Project." They come from Charles Murray's "bubble quiz" in his book "Coming Apart," designed to prompt self-reflection on your level of societal disconnect.
I've written in the past about groups like Braver Angels and No Labels, often referred to as “bridge groups,” which are dedicated to addressing the profound societal disconnect and political polarization in the country. I learned about "The Mingle Project" while listening to Smerconish's podcast. The project began as a response to his concerns about polarization and disconnectedness.
Over the past few decades, we’ve become much more sorted as a nation. We sort ourselves geographically, living in towns and communities with people who share similar views and backgrounds. Social media encourages us to find our tribe and stay in the same silo, reinforcing our perspectives and worldview. The media we consume confirms what we already believe and strengthens our world view. There is little cross-pollination across political or socio-economic groups. Like many others, Smerconish sees this social disconnect as a major driver of increased polarization.
Evidence of this self-sorting can be found in our politics. One example is the trend of "landslide counties." A landslide county is defined as one that elected a president by a 20% or greater margin. In 1980, there were 391 such counties out of roughly 3,000 in the U.S. By 2020, that number had jumped to 1,726. This same pattern - communities becoming either deep red or deep blue - is also evident in congressional districts. Of the 435 seats in Congress, University of Virginia pollster Larry Sabato now sees only 20 as true toss-ups.
Smerconish cites the work of Robert Putnam, who wrote "Bowling Alone," a landmark book about the decline of our social cohesion. Putnam notes the decline in participation in civic organizations and community groups like the Lions Club, Kiwanis, Boy Scouts and PTAs as evidence of a loss of connections. A recent example in our own area: the League of Women Voters disbanded its local chapter due to lack of interest and participation. Membership in groups like these builds what Putnam calls “social capital.”
Another factor Smerconish points to is the decline of local newspapers, which he calls “the glue that holds our communities together.” Since 2005, the U.S. has lost 2,900 newspapers, leaving about 6,000 still operating. More than half of all counties now have either no local news source or only one remaining outlet.
Smerconish considers our societal disconnect the root cause of many national problems - our political polarization being one of them. He refers to it as the "Original Sin," arguing that reconnection is essential to addressing the challenges we face.
As part of his project, Smerconish produced "The Mingle Project" movie, available for free on YouTube and on his website. It’s entertaining and it offers specific action items as takeaways. The message? We should all seek to “mingle” in everyday life. Have more face-to-face interactions and social engagement outside our bubbles. Attend live events and volunteer in our communities - flea markets, parades, farmers’ markets and art shows. Join a local organization. Host or attend social gatherings: cocktail parties (I’m available), poker nights, bridge games, book clubs. Consider attending a Mingle Meet-Up. His website lists several opportunities to connect in our area.
If we want to strengthen our connections, we need to break out of our bubbles. Strike up a conversation with a neighbor you don’t know well, support a local event or join a group that brings people together. We can’t fix polarization overnight, but we can build bridges locally, one handshake, one shared cup of coffee, one conversation at a time.
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