I would attribute those good things to the ideological competition during the Cold War. America could not win by force alone, but it had to win people to its si

I would attribute those good things to the ideological competition during the Cold War. America could not win by force alone, but it had to win people to its side and show that their way of living was better than the alternative. Things started going downhill soon after America won and became a hegemony. While the 90s promised a better future for everyone, the 2000s saw the beginning of the "war against reality", as there was no longer any existential threat to keep various political ambitions in check.