My theory is after WWII the US had a very clear and visceral understanding of the meaning of and value of the common good. Those who fought, lost loved ones, or faced total calamity understood the value of pulling together. The more time that's passed from that the less people understand this.
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or we could just be in a massive slump.
The Fourth Turning: An American Prophecy (1997) by William Strauss and Neil Howe is a sociological and historical analysis that explores patterns of generational change and historical cycles.