and make it sound/appear credible.

While there most certainly has been degradation because of we the people accepting mediocre politicians for representatives.
From the industrial revolution forward to today we have peaked and because of the mediocrity and stupid politics along with permissive pacifism and a silent majority that is happy as long as gas is not $4 a gallon....we have degraded and continue on that slope.
As a nation as manufacturing grew the USA prospered. What we are seeing now is the political agendas no longer include and future planning....NONE....just look at energy issues and infrastructure...criminal.
On top of that we have farmed out most of our manufacturing to those countries some think are better than the USA. We are an entitlement based service society with NOBODY in charge and the silent majority, while stirring, is still in an apathetic stupor.

We the people are allowing the dolts who run our country (very loose terminology!!!!) to get away with doing nothing but make speeches...get a pat on the head with a promise or two.....then wait for the next big crisis to flare up and then TALK about it....some more.

And for the narrow partisan scale crowd this cannot be neatly compartmentalized into one administration or another's watch.....it has been going on for scores of years....I hate to impede the limited scope but that's the way it is.

I agree we are lessor in some areas than in the past, however inferior is not an appropriate adjective to be used in describing the greatest country on earth.....IT JUST IS NOT!!!!

btk