I don't think being raised by wolves is a bad thing. At least we have a societal structure(regardless of the religious tint to it). The problems really started getting bad when too much of the country started taking civilization for granted and always deferring to the little green votes, then blaming the growing bureaucracy for lack of maintenance by the 'professional' political crowd, who have become purchasing agents for marketers, talk shows and contract profiteers(Dyncorp, etc). That's what Allen Dulles and partners were aiming for when they found Tricky Dick to out-McCarthy McCarthy, and the oil companies have been sending a tithe to both sides ever since.

Joe Bageant produced a great body of work that was critical of the System of systems and respectful of the laboring poor. "Deer Hunting With Jesus" and "Rainbow Pie" are a good place to start, and especially search for his essay, "The Ballad of Lynndie England"(sp?).