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I don't think its because there's no ‘fear of God’ (although there doesn't seem to be much anymore). I think it's because we're losing the sense that we are here for a purpose, that there is a spiritual meaning to life, and that life is an opportunity to better ourselves, grow beyond ourselves, and to grow spiritually.

When you take God out of the equation, it's much easier to rationalize any behavior (e.g. ‘It's justified if we kill all those who can't be reeducated. It's for the greater good.’). This kind of rationalization drives American politics right now, and the electorate doesn't care anymore - as long as their side wins.

The problem is that winning is no longer a matter of principle. At this point, principle is barely understood, as evidenced even on this forum on some threads.

It has become a matter of whose ox is gored, and who gets fat off the deal. Pure self-interest.

How many, even here, would make decisions which cost them, personally, to do the right thing?

That ties back to moral absolutes, to attributing to all what The Almighty granted in terms of Rights and Responsibilities and conducting one's affairs in such a way as to comply with at least the basic constraints of the Ten Commandments.

Can one be moral without a compass? Hardly. With nothing more than the relativistic attitude toward what is right and wrong, without the moral strength to demand what is right instead of 'lesser evils', our society will not change for the better.

When we had prayer in schools, at least most of the class believed there was a Higher Power who defined right and wrong, and before whose judgement seat we would all stand to answer for our sins.

Are there rewards for being morally upright? Sure, but don't expect them here in this life.

As for rationalization, I have seen people rationalize themselves into thinking something was 'good' because it was more convenient, cheaper, more expensive, even more difficult--pick a reason--but all in the name of how it made them feel, not over whether what they did or got was superior in the end.

We have rationalized away:

Our industry (Foreign made is just about as good and cheaper and more people can have one--besides, there is a huge profit to be made!)

Our economy (And then you can loan out ten times what you have on hand...) (You gotta have this! It is the latest! You wouldn't want to be out of style!! --besides, with the inflation rate, it won't cost you a thing to live on borrowed money!)

Our humanity:(The elderly and poor are taken care of, the Government is doing it).

Our children: (It's just a lump of tissue. It's my body... Why not use it for medical research, otherwise it'll just go to waste...)

We have been approaching the worst evils of the Roman Empire for decades, and becoming oblivious to the fact because we are only feeding Christians to the Courts, not the lions...and because we, as a nation, have abandoned the principles given us by The Almighty.

Can we reverse this?

Yes.

But to do so we have to stop exalting the false prophets of this wicked age, to decry their fallacies and pronouncements, and to refuse to comply with their evil edicts. No one said there would not be pain as a result of this. No one ever said that doing the right thing would not hurt on occasion, but I firmly believe we would all be better off in this world and the next if we only stand up for what is right.

That moral compass exists. It has been 'in print' for well over 1500 years if you are Christian, much longer if you are Jewish.

It tells us we, as a nation, are headed the wrong way, and we should not tolerate the lies of those who tell us otherwise.

Have the strength (pray for it) to call them out.

We are told we are unfeeling, uncaring, etc., but like a parent who will not let their child play in the wood chipper (meanie!), we only seek to stop them from their self-destructive behaviour, not just for their sake, but for the sake of all of our posterity as well.

We do have a purpose here, it is to serve and glorify Him.