We are living through a slow-motion social catastrophe, one that could stain our culture and weaken our nation for many, many years to come.
The worst effects of pervasive joblessness—on family, politics, society—take time to incubate, and they show themselves only slowly. But ultimately, they leave deep marks that endure long after boom times have returned. Some of these marks are just now becoming visible, and even if the economy magically and fully recovers tomorrow, new ones will continue to appear. The longer our economic slump lasts, the deeper they’ll be.
We have a civic—and indeed a moral—responsibility to do everything in our power to stop it now, before it gets even worse.