Dad Saves America The Middle Class Built Our Greatest Cities. Now They’re All Gone. - Joel Kotkin
Oct 23, 2025
Joel Kotkin, a Roger Hobbs Presidential Fellow at Chapman University and author of 'The Coming of Neo-Feudalism', discusses the erosion of America's middle class and the emergence of a new social order dominated by tech oligarchs. He highlights the challenges posed by AI, including job displacement and the decline of entry-level opportunities. Kotkin also examines geographic divides between urban elites and family-centered communities, while emphasizing the importance of local governance and the need for a renewed focus on family and community as antidotes to societal fragmentation.
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Support Artisanal, Local Value Creation
- Lean into artisan and local businesses that deliver unique human experiences.
- Support independent retail, food, and makers as a hedge against massified, automated consumption.
Two Americas: Childless Cities vs Family Regions
- America is splitting into two cultural geographies: childless elite 'alpha' cities and family-oriented regions.
- Low birth rates in elite cities threaten their long-term dominance.
Invest In Local Governance And Institutions
- Focus politics and governance at the local level where accountability and results matter most.
- Build alternative institutions when elites or universities fail to serve community needs.
