Societal Problem Effecting America

Dr. Keith Kanner—a Licensed Clinical Child, Adolescent, and Adult Psychologist and Psychoanalyst—is a Morning Show Host for "Your Family Matters" which airs on San Diego 6 News In The Morning. When I am home, I try to tune in because he gives some interesting concepts on raising children and family interactions. 

The segment "Counter-Dependence = Working" aired on March 2nd and discussed:

" . . . a societal problem that has effected America for now almost two decades:  an abundance of influences on individualism; entitlement; and a lack of social conformity.  Whereby as a democratic country we have historically pushed towards freedom, equality, and a dedicated work ethic, most sociologists have concluded that it has gone too far and that such idealizations have contributed to increases in crime, substance abuse, financial hardships, economic declines, divorces, and many other unfortunate social, health, and economic misgivings.  In other words, the basic American values of hardworking, dedicated, committed, and socially-oriented individuals, has given way to social, economic, and personal hardships because the basic American values have digressed and placed our country in dire straights.  This has then led to an increase in dependency on everything from the government, to the work place, and even on other people for basic survival, due to the inability for many people to take care of themselves based on such idealizations and social shifts.  Of course this is then passed down to our children who watch adults suffer, try to blame others for their problems, and watch our society go into a downward spiral which then causes them anxiety and an internalization of morals that are not truly "American", but actually unhealthy and geared towards a repetition of greater problems in the future."

So to wrap it up in a nutshell, Dr. Kanner hit on the following key points:

"1.  As a country, values have changed making too many people "entitled" and "dependent"

2.  Independence needs to be balance with "reality" and "practicality".
3.  All capable people need to get a job and take personal responsibility for themselves
4.  Measures need to be implemented to bring back the old American values that made this country strong
5.  The message that this sends to our children is invaluable to their development."

For all of Dr. Kanner's views on this issue, be sure to read "Counter-Dependence = Working."