In your opinion, what has caused the decline of morals in this country?
491909
The decline of morals directly points to the who growth of the "if it feels good to me it must be OK" hippie movement, and the liberal left-wing political machine that spun off from it
217459
A better question is WHY do juveniles these days have a lack of morals, values, and respect?  People need to STOP BLAMING the younger generation.  We did not raise ourselves, we are not this way on our own!  Parents need to play more of a role in thier kids' lives if they want them to start holding morals and giving respect.
984399
I would say both. The American values are  being lost based upon apathy of the American public who are more concerned about the high definition TV than they are about world conditions. There is less religion in the home, less manners being taught, less parent involvement with their children, less self discipline. There is more of self serving gratification, have to have more bling bling and toys to play with. Less caring for fellow man and your neighbor. What is rightfully termed as the "Me Generation". Little accomplishments, less education and poor production within the work place. \nDon't get angry I am pointing out a analysis that was done some years ago called Work Force 2000. It pretty much summed up these trends and they do seem to be taking place. \nAs far as personal freedoms go that is based upon the current administration and the security scare tactics which has put into place the patriot act to control the masses. I might add that few  people got upset over their rights being diminished. Per Ben Franklin "The man who trades freedom for security does not deserve nor will he ever receive either".
350821
Corruption seems to have become part of life EVERY WHERE! It is a shame that greed has taken root in sooo many.
293001
I think society in the US is selfish and materialistic.  In general, we tend to judge by looks, not by the inner beauty.  We look for convenience as we tend to be lazier.  This once Christian nation is now more heathen than it ever has been.  We are a lost culture who picks up anything that sounds good to them and agrees with what they believe.  The fact that we are more acceptant of homosexuality, divorce, affairs, pornography, etc., shows how lost and shameless we are.  It is really sad to see where we came from (the founding of America and the writers of the Declaration of Independence and how far we have fallen.  It is truly sad to see what we have become.
981219
You can blame the liberal culture and the loss of principles in our society.
906711
1. Cost of living - housing and transport expenses are now prohibitive, many new couples will never be homeowners.\n2. Political consensus - with the rise of "New" Labour there is now little difference between the two major political parties at election time. \n3. Government ethics - the present government ignores public opinion (e.g. Iraq), it's just as sleazy as previous Conservative governments, and our Prime Minister comes across as untrustworthy and insincere.\n4. Economic base - our manufacturing industries were destroyed in the 1980s, and now our service sector is under attack (e.g. call centres transferred to India).\n5. Multicultural society - polarisation is happening, especially Muslim vs non-Muslim (as a result of 7 July 2005 bombs, veil/clothing issues, activists inside UK, events around the world)
281872
The media is responsible for deteriorating moral values. They have no one to answer to but the FCC in America and that’s only on certain issues like profanity Etc.\nLet me give you an example. All major Media outlets reported on the Woman who claimed she found a finger tip in a cup of Chilli from Wendy's. Now this was on television every 20 minutes for days and in print in magazines and Newspapers world wide. This cost Wendy's millions in revenue and it cost there customers to go else where.\n The Media did not wait for positive proof, they jumped on it like a Buzzard on carrion. It was weeks later discovered that it was a lie and carried out by the lady and her husband and a friend who cut his finger tip off in an industrial accident. The Media covered it but never retracted anything and never apologized for the millions of dollars it cost Wendy's and it's stock holders or had to make restitution. As I said in the beginning the Media is not responsible to anyone and only cares about selling air time and commercial time. \nYou and I are a minor inconvenience to exploit for there financial gain. Your grief, your misery, your pain and suffering are there for the taking.\nThis is why the Media is accountable for the deteriorating moral values of society. If they can exploit lie deceive and sensationalize things just to make a buck every second of the day and get away with it by putting it on the air and in newsstands, then it sends a clear message to the world that they can too.\nThe Media will take a story and spin it, form it ,and twist it to suit them and there self serving enterprise until it is no longer news and they will spin it again and milk it like a cow to get every last drop out.\nThe media has cost presidents elections, it has cost innocent people to be hurt and killed it has even caused countries to go to war. The Media just caused a major stir, riots and deaths by printing pictures of Mohammed in a demeaning manor. If that is not destroying moral values then I don't know what is.
354940
The person who answered that "the "decay of morality" that you see is a myth" is right and wrong.\n\nHe's right in that "decay of morality" doesn't mean much.\n\nHe's wrong in that there is an actual increase in behaviors that harm people: obesity, high school dropouts, addictions of all kinds. These are the results of our increasing inability to see clearly from a moral point of view. That is, there IS a decline in our moral judgment abilities.\n\nIf you could see clearly and know what it right and what is wrong, then pornography could be multiplied 50 times, it would not make a difference.\n\nThe problem, of course, is that the increasing supply of pornographic material makes it easier to consume, thus increasing the demand, which then increases the supply. Hence, the vicious cycle continues.\n\nThe solution might be to have non-judgmental and open discussions, among men, about pornography.
468802
I definitely agree that our society is going downhill.  Unfortunately, it agrees with history.\n\nIf you look back on all of the great societies of the past, Egyptian, Roman, Babylon, etc.  they have all crumbled for one reason or another.\n\nI hate to think that our society is on the same path but looking around it's hard not to think that way.  Our government is trying to conquer the world, politically.  The claim that other countries are wrong if they do not share our same views.\n\nThe U.S. is the lone Super Power in the world today, but China and India are making up ground at an unbelievable pace.\n\nI love America and I want nothing more than our society to flourish, not to be torn apart by our government's incompetence and inability.
321841
Criminals have one thing going for them: They know how to gain ones trust. This skill helps them the achieve their ultimate goal. That is why I believe a bit of skepticism when you meet people for the first time is OK. I don't think social morals are dying out, rather, they are changing. Although I don't think that murder and theft will ever be accepted in the literal sense, people have changed their ideas about right and wrong, and to the extent of which what is right and wrong measures. An example of this could be music and piracy laws (stealing), and murdering while depressed, etc. (my thought is murder is murder, and depression should not be used as an excuse, but I was brought up in old school beliefs). You can expect a lot of things to change. In 50 years, someone else is going to be asking the exact same question.
107426
You are absolutely right.  Why are we pushing our failed model of democracy onto others?  How is our president comfortable with himself for pedaling that out to other countries?, just knowing that he was not elected by democratic means.\n\nto change a culture's attitude, something big has to happen, apparently bigger than 9-11 or Katrina.... ooooo! scary times!!\n\nIf you find out how to change a culture's attitude, then lets go to Africa to do away with some of the corruption and lack of women's rights, etc.; those things that keep AIDS spinning out of control.
899140
Yes, our society has degraded tremendously since 1970! I was twelve years old back then, and I have been watching. I wish we could get our old values back before it is too late.
299500
I think America has come along way to be more ethical and to show more humanity and humane treatment of one another because of fair labor laws, the equal rights amendment, civil rights movement, fair housing, and laws to protect people against discrimination, age, sex, and religion.  If people feel discriminated against they can just sue someone anymore.  Also, I believe American's on the whole are more educated these days.  But I have known people including myself who have been treated poorly and their civil rights stepped on by those in control and authority.  We still have alot of evil-doers in this country who are very corrupt and we unfortunately still have the "good ole boy" system in our country where money talks.  And with the treatment given to American POW's by our own American military makes me not proud at all to be an American sometimes.  Especially violating the Geneva convention.
1070549
The way young people are being brought up now is very different than when I was growing up. Parents now aren't near as strict as they use to be.  If the parents of the children now were to give their children the discipline they needed instead of just giving in because of , in some cases fear then the kids now would not be in the situations they are in.  Children would not be having children and morals would be a lot different.
1090930
You are defintely on the right track.  Keep it simple.  The government (the state) is not in the business of legislating morality.  Whenever the state attempts to do so, people will continue to do what they want anyway and the government will eventually have to change the legislation to adjust to what they people really want anyway.  The state will get by with whatever it can until people get tired of it.
82613
Miss Manners thinks it to be important for you to pose this question and for you and others to ponder the demise of manners.  Some of you have made important observations.\n\nTake a close look at society and culture before the 1960s and you will find many clues to the revolutions of our times.