In a world of casual waste and lack of caring, what has happened to the virtues of pride in outcome and concern about others?
 
There has been an eroding of personal responsibility and concern for how one appears in the eyes of others, and how one's legacy is left in the firmament of the planet.  This erosion affects all people, for ultimately the end product that is produced is bereft of genuine beauty, and lacks the quality of "the best".  If mediocre is "good enough", then this quality in general leaves the planet, and can be found nowhere.  The entire world, then, lessens or is reduced.  Somehow, by lowering the bar and accepting poor results, the race of man is no longer trying hard.  Everyone is "given a pass"; most things are now "acceptable"; and the tone and flavor of life has diminished.
 
It's come about partly as a result of over-population, but also that life has become easier.  Survival is assured, and so standards can be lowered.  This in and of itself is poor thinking, for it does not take into consideration that which is produced from this attitude.  Casual acceptance results only in casually acceptable results!  No one truly likes that, especially when one is the recipient of it.  It doesn't feel like the best, simply because it isn't.
 
The antidote is responsibility.  Not perfection.  Not even "the best".  But for a start, merely the application of caring.  To care about end results means to take responsibility for them.  It starts with you.  If you want to receive the best in life (and who doesn't?), you must apply that stance to all efforts.
 
It will be hard to turn the tide once again, to ask for and expect a behavior that recognizes and rewards right attitude.  But it is not impossible.  This is one of your great challenges during this epoch.  Raising standards once more.  Raising the bar.  Re-entering the zone of quality.  Lifting the world.  For no amount of haranguing to pull others towards the light will ever work if the inner attitude is just so-so.  Fierceness is required, and the self's daily efforts are a great place to begin.