The US is truly a non-thinking country in many respects. We can blame the educational system, the culture which says we must continually entertain ourselves, suck up whatever is thrown at us, allow our emotions to rule us, (the continual dramarama) or whatever other excuse people can think of, but the fact is, too many of us are spoiled, privileged, entitled, and just too plain lazy to think for ourselves. It's all about "whatever" to most people these days who have no boundaries or standards of their own and are just looking for the next novelty or "new thing".

I get depressed just reading what you wrote and wonder if this is just going to be normal in the future? I like to think not, that people will come to their senses--it just gets overwhelming sometimes.