Several recent studies have concluded that the United States experienced a general increase in crime, divorce, teen pregnancy, and substance abuse during the last four decades of the twentieth century. Although some research suggests that such trends—particularly the rate of violent crime—have begun to abate, conservatives often contend that the overall increase in disturbing social problems over the last half century are warning signs of a degenerating culture. Moreover, some conservatives blame the left-wing social movements of the 1960s for the moral decline that they perceive today.

Conservative writer Michael Barone, for example, believes that the countercultural movement of the 1960s seriously damaged American culture. In his view, the excesses of that decade produced a society lacking in values and moral fiber. “Today liberated America turns out to be a place where it is not very safe...