Ben Shapiro

Trust in our institutions in the United States is at an all-time low that is across the board.

Trust in the media is at an all-time low.

Trust in church is at an all-time low.

Trust in the scientific establishment is at an all-time low.

Trust in government is at an all-time low.

And of course, trust in academia is at an all-time low.

And because of our lack of trust in institutions, Americans also mistrust one another.

Now, you might think that it would be the opposite, that we mistrust one another, therefore we mistrust our institutions.

That's not really the case.

Our institutions shape us.

The way that we interact with the world is through the mechanism of institution.

If you grew up in a religious community, going to church helps shape you.

The rules of the church shape you.

The people you hang out with shape you.

The institution of your family shapes you.

Your school shapes you.

Your university shapes you.

And as we lose faith in all of those institutions to shape us, we are incapable of coming together anymore.

See, you don't mistrust the people with whom you are oriented.

Institutions tend to foster a common orientation.