What AnimalMuppet said plus the slow-but-steady evisceration of the middle class through overseas outsourcing, the gig economy, predatory lending, and rising ed

What AnimalMuppet said plus the slow-but-steady evisceration of the middle class through overseas outsourcing, the gig economy, predatory lending, and rising education + housing costs (start at various points in time since then). And the religious devotion that we are all expected to have to work, work, work (despite it buying us neither housing nor security nor peace of mind). Then throw in a failed imperial venture or two, with attendant suicide and drug addiction rates. Pandemic didn't help either.