More on social capital from WNYC's Radio Lab

Check out this recent show from WNYC's Radio Lab called "Contact." There's an interesting (if somewhat dated) rebroadcast about social capital and sites like Meetup.com.

Will Meetup Rebuild America?

There is a national crisis happening right now in America. It’s not the economy, or the war, or mad cow disease. It’s picnics. According to Harvard professor Robert Putnam, America is facing a national picnic crisis. Putnam says that in 1975 the average American went on five picnics. Today, the average American only goes on two. He also says that social isolation may be as big of a risk factor for death as smoking— it may even be bigger.