Age of Rudeness

Americans are finally wising up to what their real problems are. They are most definitely not the phantom "terrorists" that the Bush administration had promoted since September 11, 2001. Homegrown problems, including worries about fuel costs, the 200 billion plus cost of recovery in my area after the recent hurricane, irresponsible spending by Bush and Congress that has brought about historic debt for the U.S., weak leadership from the president, administration and congress, now rank high with most people here.
Thus, the waving of the bloody terrorist shirt, is no longer a way for politicians to garner support and votes. I think more Americans realize that the terrorists threat is much smaller than our own domestic problems, and that politicians who base their campaigns and policies focused on only that will fail in their election attempts.
So the recent storm and gas price increases have had one positive effect- to bring some Americans more in touch with reality as to what is important to their own welfare. As someone who was damaged in hurricane Katrina, who's city was destroyed, at least there is some solace in that. Having said that there is also something happening in America in the manners department. That is, there is a lessening in the display of proper manners here.
According to a recent poll by the Associated Press, nearly 70% of Americans say that people are ruder than they were 20 0r 30 years ago. In urban areas the rudeness level was said to be high by 74% of respondents, and in rural areas by 67%. What's the causes of this age of rudeness (Am I being polite enough today in this E mail?)? Among the factors cited in the poll are:
1) bad parenting- 93% said parents are at fault for not teaching their children well.
2) 60's generation- Parents today largely came from the wild 60's era, when the importance for manners was de-emphasized. Now those 60's kids are the stalwarts of society, and still largely ill-mannered at that.
3) cell phones- Yes, my least favorite technology gets a great deal of blame. Many respondents say the cell rudeness has become "acceptable" and opened the way for even more bad public behavior.
4) instant gratification- The demand for instant gratification has strained common courtesy to the breaking point.
5) no training- more and more manners are taught less and less. This tends to make bad behavior less socially acceptable. 6) technological innovations- theses do separate us from other humans, making our social relations skills more awkward and less polite. So...any observation on rudeness there? I assume every place has the many of the same social mores about rudeness, since we are all deluged with the same media stimuli. Just how rude are we (ok, rate me too) today? Are we worse than in previous times? Uh...don't be rude and skip my questions..........