I can't help but think that a substantial part of the issue can be traced back to a post-WWII notion that "automation" would be humanity's golden ticket to more leisure time.

Now, we haven't really managed to create more leisure time, but we have managed to create a society that largely equates "paradise" with not needing to DO anything, and not having to THINK about anything. Which — I think — is a pretty dangerous and deadly path.

We're all gradually getting dumber. Major newsmedia used to be written/presented with a 10th grade cognitive ability in mind; now it's a 4th grade ability... except the whole "politically correct" crowd are probably busy rallying to change what used to be 4th grade to now be regarded as 10th grade... lest anyone be thought "dumb."