It had occurred to me several years ago that Ross Perot and Jimmy Carter were Naval Academy grads and I wondered how they could have the Anti-American attitudes they did with that background. Perhaps now I know.
Wes Clark is another. Today, I see two ways for a man to corrupt himself: one is to be so trained by malicious institutional programs, the other is poor judgement. As it happens, the undermining of our patriarchal fabric by our enemies (internal enemies, mostly) represents the former method in itself, and is specifically tailored to promote the latter. Carter and Clark may be pseudo-communists, but they made that choice under the seductive power of the carefully crafted morals within our new debauched culture -- the fulcrum of which are "good intentions".
One cannot discount cluelessness as a factor, too... the "idiot" portion of those considered useful.
"Your attitude illustrates well the fact that America still has a vast reserve of manliness, duty and honor to draw upon."
And for that, we use the new tools of networking. Some call it 'new media', but the point is to pool those "vast reserves of manliness" you describe, exponentially compared to any historical convention.
One must also take comfort in the reality that self-serving punks and apathetic slackers have always plagued us, only the names were once rogues and scallywags. Given the restoration of shame and pride as meaningful values, this very group of outcasts may transform into virtuous human beings.
And if they won't, well they never mattered anyway...
"I'm getting to the age where some men just don't give a hoot anymore and just go about their personal business. I'm certainly not spent, but its a struggle sometimes..."
Relax. I am sure you have earned your time to be lazy!