The primary indicator of the erosion of industriousness in the working class is the increase of prime-age males with no more than a high school education who say they are not available for work—they are "out of the labor force." That percentage went from a low of 3% in 1968 to 12% in 2008. Twelve percent may not sound like much until you think about the men we're talking about: in the prime of their working lives, their 30s and 40s, when, according to hallowed American tradition, every American man is working or looking for work. Almost one out of eight now aren't. Meanwhile, not much has changed among males with college educations. Only 3% were out of the labor force in 2008.
Fishtown these days looks to be gentrifying (as is my own neighborhood). I come from the same social milieu that, in this essay, "Fishtown" is meant to represent.
Frank, somewhat related to this subject is a great article posted on Front Porch Republic titled "Why I am Leaving Georgetown."
ReplyDeleteI'm sure you will like it.