Outsourced and Deskilled: The Plight of the Modern-Day Industrialized Family
Outsourcing life skills is the hidden debt we're leaving for our children
"The price of anything is the amount of life you exchange for it." - Henry David Thoreau
In an age where convenience is often mistaken for progress, we find ourselves at a crossroads, teetering between the allure of modern comforts and the erosion of essential life skills. This isn't just a casual observation; it's a clarion call to recognize the profound impact of our collective deskilling. As we increasingly outsource even the most basic tasks to Big Business and Big Government, we're not just losing the ability to sew a button, change a tire, or make a meal; we're surrendering pieces of our human essence. The stakes are high, especially when we consider the legacy we're leaving for our children. Are we raising a generation of innovators and problem-solvers, or are we nurturing a crop of individuals wholly dependent on external systems for their most basic needs?
The proponents of this outsourcing trend argue that it's a natural evolution, a gift from the gods of industrialization. They say that by relinquishing mundane tasks, we free up time for leisure, family, and personal growth. But let's dissect that argument for a moment. What are we really doing with this newfound time? More often than not, we're working longer hours, shackled to our desks and devices, just to afford the very services that promise to liberate us. It's a paradox, a vicious cycle where the economy takes over the tasks we used to do ourselves, and, in return, we offer up more of our most precious resource—time. We're not just outsourcing tasks; we're outsourcing our lives.
One of the subtle yet devastating effects of our societal deskilling is the loss of self-sufficiency, a fundamental aspect of human identity. This trait not only cultivates independence but also fosters a deep sense of personal fulfillment. I recently rediscovered this nearly lost feeling while attempting to install an electrical outlet for our dishwasher. The wires fell short of the machine's electrical box, and the installation service—whom I'd hired—told me I'd need to add an outlet. Initially, I thought of hiring an electrician, but they assured me it was a simple task. At that moment, however, "simple" felt as abstract as String Theory. Undeterred, I committed to mastering this challenge myself.
Equipped with a list of essentials, I visited the local hardware store. Years of home ownership had blessed me with an eclectic set of tools, preparing me for the task. As I started, a wave of apprehension enveloped me, heightened by the risks associated with electrical work. It felt like a perilous endeavor, where one wrong move could spell electrical death. But when I switched the circuit breaker back on and successfully tested the outlet, a surge of joy overwhelmed me. This wasn't just a personal accomplishment; it was a triumph over the modern-day industrialized man.
So why have we allowed this profound sense of accomplishment to become an endangered experience? While it's true that no one can be a jack-of-all-trades, the issue isn't about mastering every possible skill but about retaining a basic level of self-sufficiency. We've traded away our personal sovereignty for a false sense of security, packaged as convenience. This isn't just a loss of skill; it's a forfeiture of freedom, a relinquishing of our ability to protect and provide for our families when the chips are down. We've traded our resilience for comfort, and in doing so, we've compromised our very essence. As Benjamin Franklin famously said: "Those who would give up essential Liberty, to purchase a little temporary Safety, deserve neither Liberty nor Safety."
One of the most glaring casualties of our generation's deskilling is the art of full-time parenting. We've outsourced our children's upbringing to daycares, organized sports, and even the State, becoming increasingly disconnected from the essential roles of parenting, leading, and teaching. Some parents resort to this out of economic necessity, others in the pursuit of future educational and career advantages for their children, and some simply because they find the constant presence of their children overwhelming. Whatever the reason, it's understandable why parents might feel overburdened; modern American society places immense demands on them, and that's on top of the already challenging task of raising children.
It's worth noting that the concept of parenting has evolved significantly over time, influenced by cultural shifts, economic pressures, and technological advancements. In agrarian societies, families often worked together on the land, and children were integrated into the daily rhythms of work and community life from a young age. Parenting was a collective endeavor, shared among extended families and communities. As industrialization took hold, the family unit became more nuclear, and the responsibilities of parenting began to shift. Fathers increasingly left home for work, while mothers took on a more centralized role in child-rearing.
In recent decades, the rise of dual-income households has further complicated the parenting landscape. The economic pressures of modern life often necessitate that both parents work outside the home, leading to an increased reliance on external childcare services. This shift has been accompanied by a cultural narrative that equates professional success with personal worth, often at the expense of hands-on parenting. The result is a generation of parents who are physically and emotionally distant from their children, leading to a vacuum often filled by educational institutions, digital devices, and structured extracurricular activities.
What children truly need, however, is the undivided attention and investment of their parents—an idea our hyper-industrialized society often dismisses. As a full-time stay-at-home parent, I've come to realize that reclaiming this role is not just beneficial but essential to reversing this tide of industrialization on our family. While it may not feel as instinctive for a man to be so involved in raising his children, the daily commitment to humility, patience, and love lays a foundation of health, wellness, and sovereignty for the family. This commitment to full-time, loving parenting might very well be the most invaluable skill we can impart to our children. In a society that often undermines the family unit, this could be the most significant act of resistance and the greatest gift we offer to the next generation.
While it's tempting to attribute our societal deskilling to a grand design by Big Government—aiming to control, sway, and mold us into their vision of productive citizens—the reality is likely more nuanced. As I've explored in previous essays, this trend probably stems from our pursuit of efficiency to placate our innate biological desire for comfort, ease, and complacency. This double-edged human trait has led to remarkable technological advancements that have genuinely bettered our world—think of the printing press, the cotton gin, computers, and the internet. Yet, the flip side is that we've also engineered a lazier, more dependent species.
In response, some have devised unconventional methods to reintroduce adversity into our lives, such as forced physical fitness, cold showers, or, as silly as it sounds, going on digital detoxes. However, these are outliers; the majority continue down the path of increasing automation. If we're not careful, we'll soon find ourselves in a world reminiscent of Kurt Vonnegut Jr.'s "Player Piano," where machines do everything and humans merely oversee them. While the allure of mass automation is tempting, especially as we experience its conveniences through technologies like ChatGPT, virtual assistants, and smart home devices, we must remember the cost. The more we embrace these advancements, the more we relinquish—sacrificing individual purpose and succumbing to the dehumanizing effects of unchecked technological progress.
“The main business of humanity is to do a good job of being human beings…not to serve as appendages to machines, institutions, and systems.”
-Kurt Vonnegut Jr., "Player Piano"
The next generation will soon inherit the world we're shaping today. The fewer skills we impart for living a sovereign life, the closer we come to raising the first nearly fully automated and dependent generation. The rapid pace of technological advancement over the past two decades alone should give us pause to consider this looming reality.
And what happened to courses like 'home economics' in schools? These classes, once designed to teach basic homemaking skills, have largely disappeared. This isn't because parents have taken up the mantle; rather, something more insidious has occurred. We've shifted away from self-sufficiency, from living in concert with the land and working for ourselves, our family, and our local community, becoming increasingly dependent on large industries for our food, agriculture, and employment. Escaping this cycle is becoming increasingly difficult.
Nowadays, our children spend most of their time in school, participating in organized sports, and, increasingly, online. They're then funneled into a university system that often saddles them with crippling debt, forcing them into full-time work to make ends meet, all while trying to navigate adult responsibilities like starting a family, something they’re becoming increasingly less prepared to do. The onus is on parents to counteract this trend. We must raise children who are free thinkers, unbound by societal norms, capable of taking care of themselves and their loved ones, and free from the burdens of debt and a lack of homemaking skills.
In conclusion, the responsibility lies with us, as parents and as citizens, to reverse the tide of industrialization that has swept away our basic parenting and homemaking skills. We must embrace the satisfaction and sense of purpose that comes from doing things ourselves and pass these skills on to our children. By doing so, we prepare them for a world that is increasingly automated yet ever uncertain. We equip them with the tools they need to be empowered, self-sufficient, and free. To successfully raise their own family when the day comes. This is not just a lifestyle choice; it's a moral imperative for the well-being of our families and the future of our nation. Let us not be the generation that traded away its skills and sovereignty for the illusion of convenience. Let us be the generation that reclaimed its essence, fortified its resilience, and passed on a legacy of empowerment and freedom.
Stay aware. Stay empowered. Stay free.
-Greg
BONUS: Concrete Steps for Reclaiming Skills and Sovereignty
For parents concerned about the deskilling of our society and its impact on their families, there are actionable steps that can be taken to reclaim lost skills and foster self-sufficiency. Here are some suggestions:
Community-Based Skill-Sharing Workshops: Consider organizing or participating in community workshops that focus on essential life skills. These could range from basic carpentry and home repairs to cooking and sewing. Not only do these workshops provide valuable skills, but they also strengthen community bonds.
Family-Oriented DIY Projects: Engage in do-it-yourself projects as a family. Whether it's building a treehouse, planting a vegetable garden, or making homemade soap, these activities offer practical skills and the added benefit of quality family time.
Educational Reforms: Advocate for educational reforms that prioritize life skills alongside academic knowledge. This could mean lobbying for classes on financial literacy, basic cooking, or even first aid to be included in the school curriculum.
Outdoor Skills Training: Given the disconnection from nature that many experience in modern life, consider programs that teach outdoor survival skills. Activities like camping, fishing, hunting, and hiking can be both educational and bonding experiences for the family.
Tech-Free Time: Designate periods where the family disengages from all electronic devices. Use this time for hands-on activities like board games, cooking, or simply talking to each other. This not only improves interpersonal skills but also reduces dependency on digital entertainment.
Parental Skill Development: Parents should also take the time to improve their own skills. Whether it's taking an online course on home repairs or reading books on effective parenting, the more skilled you are, the better you can guide your children.
Local Barter Systems: Establish or join a local barter system where skills and services can be exchanged. This not only encourages skill development but also fosters a sense of community and mutual support.
Mentorship Programs: Encourage your children to seek mentors who can impart valuable life skills and wisdom that are not typically taught in schools. This could be a local craftsman, a family friend with financial acumen, or even a grandparent with a wealth of life experience.