The Decline of the Great Theater: Why We Must Act to Save Our Society and What Happens When the Guardrails of a Nation Begin to Crumble
Last night, I dreamed of standing in line at a dilapidated theater, waiting to participate in a shared experience. The line grew chaotic, and for a moment, it seemed like disorder would win. But through a few small acts of leadership, the crowd regained order. Eventually, everyone received their ticket — only to find the interior of the theater collapsing. Rotting beams, absent safety rails, and deteriorating walkways prevented me from safely reaching someone below who desperately needed help.
The dream left me uneasy, but its symbolism echoes a visceral truth about the state of our world. The crumbling infrastructure in my dream mirrors more than failing roads or weakened bridges; it symbolizes eroding civic norms, institutions, and the willingness to care for others. Like the audience relegated to the “nosebleed” seats, too many of us have become mere spectators in the theater of life — bystanders to the decline of our communities and democratic systems.
Spectatorship is no longer an option. If we do not rebuild and reinforce the guardrails of our society, we risk becoming helpless participants in our own collective disintegration.
Think of the physical infrastructure in your community — streets, playgrounds, schools. Now imagine them as societal metaphors. These structures can’t exist without the collective will to build, maintain, and protect them. Much like failing highways, our social fabric is fraying under the weight of neglect and apathy.
- Eroding Civic Norms: Communities are increasingly fractured, with fewer shared values or traditions uniting neighbors. The digital age has exacerbated isolation, confusing individual expression with collective purpose.
- Breakdown of Civic Responsibility: Research consistently shows that civic engagement — voting, volunteering, community organizing — is closely tied to community wellbeing. Yet civic participation is in steep decline across many democracies.
- Failing Infrastructure as a Warning: Evidence suggests that decaying infrastructure mirrors societal decay. Poorly maintained parks or unsafe buildings in neighborhoods are linked to higher crime rates and poorer community health. These physical markers tell a broader story of neglect.
The deeper tragedy lies in the mental toll of this decline. When individuals lose faith in their democratic systems and each other, they retreat into private lives, leaving communities rudderless and vulnerable to further collapse.
This isn’t a lost cause, nor must we resign ourselves to watching civilization slide further into disorder. History shows us that transformation is possible when individuals and communities act with conviction and empathy.
Consider the story of Denmark, where happiness is famously linked to community trust and participation. Programs connecting neighbors—from shared urban gardens to subsidized cooperative housing models—create not just functionally sound infrastructure, but networks of care and shared responsibility.
Closer to home, grassroots projects in impoverished neighborhoods in the United States have shown that even small groups of citizens can make monumental changes. Think of the volunteers who rebuilt public libraries, rejuvenated neglected parks, or launched advocacy campaigns for clean drinking water. These stories underscore one essential point: small, collective actions have seismic effects.
The crucial factor in these successes isn’t massive governmental intervention but committed individuals weaving a stronger social fabric person by person, block by block, vote by vote.
The inertia felt by many of us—the immovable sense that “someone else will take care of it,” or “what difference can I make?”—is one of the most dangerous undercurrents to collective progress.
Psychologists studying altruism paralysis find that witnessing suffering without pathways to help can lead people to disengage entirely. And yet, research also shows that small acts of agency — whether voting, helping a neighbor, or advocating for change — restore a sense of hope and personal power, creating ripple effects far beyond the immediate action.
Similarly, there’s profound wisdom in acknowledging the interdependence of human lives. Sociologists emphasize the durkheimian concept of social solidarity, which explains how collective responsibility binds individuals together, creating a healthier, more interconnected society. Much like the safety rails in my dream, these bonds are the invisible hands that stop us from falling into chaos.
The role of the spectator is seductive. Watching from the sidelines requires little risk — no sweat, no tears, no accountability for the unfolding outcome. But life, and certainly democracy, isn’t meant to be a spectator sport. Every generation shoulders the responsibility of erecting the societal infrastructure they themselves will not only inhabit but pass down.
We must stop waiting for “others” to fix the walkways — the failing educational systems, the fragmenting communities, the polarization poisoning our civic discourse. Instead, we must each decide to act. Consider these steps as a starting point to rebuild the guardrails of our collective humanity:
- Engage Locally: Begin with your immediate surroundings. Join your neighborhood committee. Volunteer for community improvement projects. Show up where you’re most needed.
- Advocate for Empathy: Listen without judgment and seek to understand those whose lives or viewpoints differ from your own. Empathy needs to be cultivated as much as it needs to be shown.
- Reimagine Participation: Whether it’s voting or smaller acts—attending town halls, mentoring youth—actively shape the communities where you live and work.
- Cultivate Connection: Build relationships with your own neighbors. Connections often ignite collective action, so open your gates (literally and metaphorically) to those around you.
- Demand Accountability: Support policies that prioritize infrastructure — both the physical and social—pressuring leaders to allocate funding where it reinforces safe, thriving communities.
History shows us that decline is not inevitable. Just as civilizations have faltered, they have also risen again when groups collectively made the conscious decision to act. America, both as an idea and a reality, has constantly redefined itself through self-correction, reform, and revitalization.
But this time, the stakes are higher; the cracks in the guardrails won’t repair themselves. The confluence of climate challenges, political polarization, and technological disruption means that rebuilding societal safety nets is not just a matter of thriving but surviving.
This brings us back to the great theater of life. Will we allow ourselves to remain passive onlookers, relegated to the nosebleed seats of a society frayed at the seams? Or will we step onto the stage, transforming ourselves into the actors, the stars, the stories our time so critically needs?
I have been moved, in recent years, to join Clackamas Indivisible, a local political action group. I sometimes give advice and guidance to people troubled by addictions. I have been writing prolifically about spiritual and social issues of this age, and submitting the writings to the general public. I have also volunteered for over forty hours a month at the Portland chapter of TIP, which is the Trauma Intervention Program. Here I join with first responders at scenes where death has occurred, making myself available to the surviving family, friends, and neighbors. I also stay aware of what is going on in the world, and in my local community. I have endured a powerful several year program to heal from trauma, which has opened up my heart and mind to the emotiobal and spiritual needs of others who are also suffering. I have saved the world from my unconscious self. These are small but important contributions to reestablishing love’s order in our often chaotic world
Today, we have seen enough decline to know its cost — and enough success to know its antidote. From your family to your neighborhood, your city council to your nation, I urge you to take part in the rebuilding process. Speak up where silence once reigned. Stretch a hand where you once retracted it. Forge connections where fractures have formed.
Because as the dream revealed, the theater may be broken, but the hope lies in us — the audience willing to step into action.
Together, we rebuild. Together, we rise.
Jennifer Walter and Trump’s Chaos Generator
Here are some wise and important words from sociologist Jennifer Walter about what is happening in this country right now and what to do about it:
“As a sociologist, I need to tell you:
You being overwhelmed is the Trump administration’s goal.
1/ The flood of 200+ executive orders in Trump’s first days exemplifies Naomi Klein’s “shock doctrine” – using chaos and crisis to push through radical changes while people are too disoriented to effectively resist. This isn’t just politics as usual – it’s a strategic exploitation of cognitive limits.
2/ Media theorist McLuhan predicted this: When humans face information overload, they become passive and disengaged. The rapid-fire executive orders create a cognitive bottleneck, making it nearly impossible for citizens and media to thoroughly analyze any single policy.
3/ Agenda-setting theory explains the strategy: When multiple major policies compete for attention simultaneously, it fragments public discourse. Traditional media can’t keep up with the pace, leading to superficial coverage.
The result? Weakened democratic oversight and reduced public engagement.
What now?
1/ Set boundaries: Pick 2-3 key issues you deeply care about and focus your attention there. You can’t track everything – that’s by design. Impact comes from sustained focus, not scattered awareness.
2/ Use aggregators & experts: Find trusted analysts who do the heavy lifting of synthesis. Look for those explaining patterns, not just events.
3/ Remember: Feeling overwhelmed is the point. When you recognize this, you regain some power. Take breaks. Process. This is a marathon.
4/ Practice going slow: Wait 48hrs before reacting to new policies. The urgent clouds the important. Initial reporting often misses context
5/ Build community: Share the cognitive load. Different people track different issues. Network intelligence beats individual overload.
Remember: They want you scattered. Your focus is resistance.
Thanks, Julia Beebe for posting this!
