Jim, IMHO, it started with 2 paychecks (husband and wife) allowed to borrow on a loan.
Then, we were lied to about our own oil deposits and started buying oil from the Middle East. Which gave them more power.
Then, we shipped manufacturing overseas by way of NAFTA.
Now, we have both parents working, if they are still together, our children being raised by the nanny state, and few jobs other than sales and paper pushing (or computer info pushing).
Our children no longer can be proud of a trade that they enjoy, or a country that they can have faith in.