Part 5/14:
One poignant example shared is the experience of someone on food stamps, who felt humiliated when institutional systems rigidly dictated what they could purchase, reinforcing a sense of being mistrusted. The broader implication is that social trust—the belief that others will respect your autonomy and good faith—is critically declining. In fact, current levels of social trust are the lowest recorded in American history, threatening the stability of democratic institutions and civil society.