Is the American society and culture turning out dumb and violent youth?

[soundmanchild]

There have been 4 campus shootings this week. As these incidents accelerate, will citizens come to grips that "America is crumbling?" If we pause and take a look around us, we see stupidity engulfing almost every decision being made from health choices to government spending. Why the decline in American values? The TV seems to increase exponentially in programming that goes against most values that are needed for a society to flourish. Where are we headed and is there anyway of truly changing it?
I believe we can turn it around, but what like to hear other opinions.

[globar]

Definitely the question above yours just asked ...what is a good gangster name for me ...
Media internet music along with lack of parental control or even interest...
The almighty dollar and materialism is God in the States...

[bottom contributor]

Stop watching television, guy. Human beings, and even Americans in general, are not generally worse morally than they've ever been at any given period of time throughout history. The media is what makes us hate ourselves and each other. It's not a cliche or a paranoid fantasy. It's totally true. The television has now been rendered for use in the propogation of cynicism. Cynicism is at the heart of all of these trends of violence you see. And you're making it worse with your question here on Yahoo! Answers. Things aren't worse, generally, than they've ever been. It's just that we're fed so much negative information at such a rapid pace that we're not even given a chance to see the good in society.

[Bubbles]

not so much dumb and violent as selfish and self centered. if they can't have it their way, shoot 'em. If they can't have the girl they want, shoot her. if they can't have the stuff they want, shoot em'. Whats really scary is reading some of the questions on this site and realizing how old the kids are that are asking them. sheesh! Now thats dumb!!