What is the cause of the of the degeneration of the United States of America?

My sarcastic and oversimplified answer is this. That’s what too much church and home schooling gets you. Besides, 50% of the population is below average. All of us are below average at some things and this rears its ugly head in numerous complex ways.

My analytical answer reveals many reasons for the devolution of our discourse and the degeneration of. Distrust in government post-Vietnam and the Nixon Presidency. Faith based belief systems being woven into the power structures of public policy. Fear and loathing since the terrorist attacks of 2001. Dramatic decrease in the value of nuanced critical thinking. Increased stress in all ways possible, stress is non-partisan.

Unfortunately, we may have already become Backslider Nation.