"Where once Americans cheered for people who represented character traits they would like to embody and who had acheived greatness they would like to rival, we now cheer mainly for people who amuse us. Being entertained is plainly a shallower pursuit than being inspired."
--William A. Henry III, In Defense of Elitism, 1994

This is surely the truth these days. We ( I say that rather broadly), are the "me" generation. Quick microwaveable fixes are the norm. The difficult things that build character are laughed at as stupid. Everyone demands their fair share whether they have earned it or not.