The Real-Time Collapse of American Society

American Thinker ^ | 29 Apr, 2026 | E. Jeffrey Ludwig

[MtnClimber]

uring the past 50-plus years, there has been a decline in the formality of workplace office attire, an increase in little children calling adult neighbors and relatives by their first names, and an increase of “sloppy Joe” or “sloppy Jane” clothing on our college campuses. In our largest city — New York — fare evasions on buses and subways are at an all-time high. The misbehavior in our public schools has reached intolerable levels. All sectors of everyday life are in decline.

Bus drivers in NYC are not as likely as in past years to insist that passengers pay their fares in order to ride the bus. And in the NYC subways, as in the years before Rudy Giuliani became mayor, more and more riders are jumping turnstiles and, after jumping the turnstile, opening one of the locked gates for a minute to allow friends or strangers to enter without paying.

Office attire is more “casual” than ever. Now, in midtown Manhattan where there are thousands of business offices, we find fewer and fewer men wearing ties and jackets. The women are also casually dressed. There is an assault on what is now being called “formal attire.” This reflects a deep-seated sense that hierarchies of competence are deemed less important. Even years after COVID, many are still working from home in their pajamas or torn jeans, and this is perceived by many as an improvement over forced compliance to “office subcultures.”

In addition to the above-noted “informality,” we are seeing the fruit of 50 years of feminism. Gloria Steinem came into the limelight in the 1970s. Since then, marriages are down, births are down, and depression medications are being prescribed at high levels.

Also, college admissions over the decades after the 1960s would no longer be based mainly upon SAT

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TOPICS: Society
KEYWORDS: bluerule; casualfridays; demagogicparty; illegals

[Starboard]

Its odd that people who are beneficiaries of a dynamic and advanced economy dress like some of the people who live in the poorest regions on earth (i.e., unkempt appearance, shabby pants, t-shirts, flip-flops).

[Bon of Babble]

The misbehavior in our public schools has reached intolerable levels.

Some of it starts right here - teachers and admin are no longer able to suspend, expel or even discipline miscreants -Obama claimed black kids were being suspended and expelled more than White kids (and he was right, b/c of misbehavior, etc.) - so he put a stop to that.

SO, kids learn they can get away with anything in the schools, no consequences - and take that into society, to the workplace, etc.- with dire results.

No wonder so many of them are getting fired by their bosses:

Recent data indicate that approximately 60% of employers have fired at least one Gen Z employee they hired within the past year, with many terminations occurring within the first 90 days to six months of employment.

Common employer complaints driving these terminations include excessive phone use (78%), missed deadlines (60%), and poor work quality (62%), alongside perceptions of defensiveness when receiving feedback and lack of professional initiative.

Employers also cite issues with dress sense, language, and punctuality, with nearly 80% of terminated employees having been placed on a performance improvement plan before dismissal.

[Georgia Girl 2]

Atlanta is a combination of all of the above.

[aquila48]

“It’s not so much that American society is changing as much as demographics are changing. Sixty five years of third world shithole immigration has destroyed the American fabric.”

Yep! Demographics is indeed destiny!

[MtnClimber]

Pikes Peak would be a good climb for a family especially if lower climbs are done for acclimation to altitude, get fitness boosted and to make sure boots are broken in. Also don’t forget “the ten essentials” because the weather can turn cold. Cotton clothing is deadly in cold rain.

[x]

During the past 50-plus years, there has been a decline in the formality of workplace office attire, an increase in little children calling adult neighbors and relatives by their first names, and an increase of “sloppy Joe” or “sloppy Jane” clothing on our college campuses.

Isn't there pushback now against GenZ showing up at work in their pajamas? I haven't noticed the kids calling adult neighbors and relatives by their first names, but if it's true the "Fun Aunts" and "Fun Uncles" probably like and encourage it. Similarly, college studends have been dressing down for a long time. Suitcoats and ties went out in the 60s.

A lot of standards already collapsed, but is society still collapsing and will it collapse still further?

[Albion Wilde]

People are becoming much less polite in general.

One out of two FR threads with over 20 replies will bear this out.

[Fledermaus]

I was a kid in the 60s.

On one hand we watched Apollo and then the moon landing while on the other we got Watts riots and Manson.

Laugh In and Hee Haw.

Strange times.

[GingisK]

Eastood movies are more true to life.

[Vision]

This week I had an annual doctors appointment and my blood was drawn by a guy who had diamonds (or something) for teeth. I almost made a scene but went with it. Utterly unprofessional.