In sobering news for our country’s future, a new Wall Street Journal poll says our national values have shifted radically over the last 25 years. In 1998, 70 percent of Americans deemed patriotism very important and 62 percent said the same of religion. Now, only 38 percent find patriotism very important, and only 39 percent said the same of religion. 

The share of Americans who holds childrearing and hard work as very important values has also fallen dramatically. Young Americans are the least religious, least patriotic, and least committed both to hard work and to having children.

Not surprisingly, they are also more anxious and depressed. Could it be because many have rejected the stabilizing values and commitments that make life worth living?  

It’s sad for them—and a resounding failure on the part of all of us charged with equipping them for lives of meaning and purpose. We need to turn this ship around. Fast.