Studies show that social engagement is one of the best predictors of happiness.Yet we associate with each other less than ever.Robert Putnam of Harvard University called this phenomenon"bowling alone";he said that the decline ofprivate associations,particularly churches,had led to an isolation that was making people poorer emotionally.That pattern has accelerated as we swivel toward a more digital society.We live in the richest,most prosperous,freest time in human history.That"s a wonderful gift we"ve all been given.But we"ve also shed gifts that are ancient and vital:the gift of solid family structure;the gift of common religious commitment;the gift of a culture and heritage of meritocracy（精英教育）.No government program can fill those gaps-and every effort to do so ends with the exacerbation of precisely the failures govemment programs are designed to alleviate.

Studies show that social engagement is one of the best predictors of happiness.Yet we associate with each other less than ever.Robert Putnam of Harvard University called this phenomenon"bowling alone";he said that the decline ofprivate associations,particularly churches,had led to an isolation that was making people poorer emotionally.That pattern has accelerated as we swivel toward a more digital society.We live in the richest,most prosperous,freest time in human history.That"s a wonderful gift we"ve all been given.But we"ve also shed gifts that are ancient and vital:the gift of solid family structure;the gift of common religious commitment;the gift of a culture and heritage of meritocracy（精英教育）.No government program can fill those gaps-and every effort to do so ends with the exacerbation of precisely the failures govemment programs are designed to alleviate.