We’ve always had garbage people but the problem is unfettered capitalism literally rewards narcissistic sociopathic behavior and we for some reason decided to make that the dominant system. Which means the worst amongst us have the most power and resources and help set the tone. Those people then attract the terribly misguided like Lee Atwater (US example) and religious zealots (evangelicals in the US) who propagate the message that self-interest is all that matters.

For the record I’m not anti-capitalist, but we did let the whole idea get out of control from the very beginning and I think it has a lot to do with the decline. Not to mention the coming death of hundreds of millions due to climate change.