I attribute it primarily to lack of appreciation for the foundation of civilization: Private property. Violations of private property are primarily done throug

I attribute it primarily to lack of appreciation for the foundation of civilization: Private property. Violations of private property are primarily done through the state, which socializes costs and thereby both reduces incentives for responsible behaviour and increases incentives to be dependent and irresponsible. Less wealth is created, more wealth is squandered. Many who raise democracy to an practically religious status also contribute to this decline, as it overshadows much more important cultural values, such as free and open public discourse, decentralized / local governance and of course private property. It's almost as if, as long as you're in the majority, anything goes, perverse incentives be damned.