Top 10 Challenges Facing America Today

The first step in any recovery program is admitting you have a problem. The following is a list of what I see as the ten greatest challenges facing America today, in no particular order:
1. Living beyond our means. On a personal level and on a national level, Americans are living beyond our means. Our society is materialistic and wasteful, and our lifestyle is funded by debt. We are financially dependent on others. We have shifted from producers to consumers.
2. A pervasive sense of entitlement. The strong work ethic upon which this country was founded is no longer central to society. The superficial cult of celebrity has Americans convinced that we are all destined for fame and fortune. We demand instant gratification.
3. Energy dependence. Our insatiable thirst for foreign oil skews our foreign policy objectives and makes us vulnerable to those who would harm us.
4. Failing education system. In math and science, we continue to fall behind the competition. High school graduates don't know the basics. Our culture has come to celebrate willful ignorance.
5. Crumbling infrastructure. Our bridges, highways, and utility distribution systems are quickly falling into dangerous disrepair. This impairs our global competitiveness and imperils our citizenry.
6. Growing income inequality. The wealthiest 1% of Americans now hold 40% of the country's wealth. The middle class is shrinking, and many feel that the American Dream is no longer achievable. If these trends continue, social destabilization is inevitable.
7. Ineffective media. The current 24-hour news cycle creates a sound bite mentality in which nuance is discouraged and whoever yells the loudest wins. In the quest for ratings, media outlets substitute uninformed opinion for factual, objective reporting. There is no longer a focus on investigative journalism. Inaccuracy, intellectual laziness, and imprecision abound. We prioritize scandal and gossip at the expense of more meaningful issues.
8. Loss of faith in institutions. Abuse of power by big business, religious organizations, and government has led Americans to become jaded and distrustful. "Experts" no longer have any credibility.
9. Meaningless work. In recent decades we have shifted away from manufacturing toward a service economy. As work has become less tangible, and more contrived, many workers in Corporate America find their jobs dissatisfying, mind-numbing, and even "soul-killing".
10. Social isolation. The bonds that tie us to our communities are weakening. As Americans become unmoored from society due to unemployment, poverty, and disenfranchisement, we no longer feel a sense of social responsibility.

Do you agree? What do you think?