In the immediate postwar era, America was instrumental in creating a "New World Order" of which it could be justly proud. About 1970, however, America set out upon a new path. Caught in a recession, few Ph. D. recipients in science could get jobs. The smart students switched into the newly emerging fields of Business Administration and Marketting. This reorientation of the Nation's youth led to profound changes in science and education as well as in business.
The concept of scientific truth was called into question, being replaced by concensus building. Scientific papers began to appear in the New York Times before they were peer reviewed in scientific journals. Do you remember all the hype concerning "cold fusion?"
No one was interested in the concept of "mathematical proof" anymore. It became almost impossible to get an actual proof published. Why bother? You just have to get a majority to believe something is true! Then it is true, for all intents and purposes.
If truth itself can be marketted, then anything is fair that leads to greater acquisition of dollars or power! If we can just keep the government from interfering, we can create the greatest economy the world has ever known, even if it turns out to be a mere illusion!
By the 1990's there was a new paradigm at work. You didn't have to have profits, just promises that gullible investors would accept. Meanwhile you could pocket the dollars and the prestige that wealth conveys. What could be better than this?
The Soviet Union did horrible things to the environment, but just watch what unfettered capitalism does to it in the years to come! Capitalism needs an ever growing number of consumers with an ever growing number of perceived needs. One standard American consumer is worth ten or more people in a developing country. Just imagine when the latter acquire as many "needs" as we have now!
With the passing of each year, one species after another draws ever closer to extinction, as humans continue to spawn as rabbits were once alleged to have done. Barring some inventive corrective solution on Nature's part, or the invention of an entirely new Earth-friendly economic system, it seems ever more likely that our planet will become inhospitable to life within a couple centuries at best.
No need to worry! Those of us who are alive today will not be around to see it happen! Meanwhile, we'll live the good life and encourage our children to do the same, and all of us will remain blissfully unaware of the consequences of what we do and don't do. Let the sonambulists dream on!