Long enough now that most of us can barely remember when it was alive. Our country has regressed to the point that technology allows us to take for granted the grandeur of knowledge. Take as an example, the Internet. Here we have a tool that can instantly present you with information, allow you to explore knowledge in a fashion beyond any existing library. At your fingertips exist the greatest works produced by history, whether they be art, literature or music.
Genius is preserved and made available to every human who can make their way to a computer.
No, outside of essay crunch-time, we've all been glued to Big Bob's Busty College Babes and Marilyn Manson's Hut of Urine and Goat's Blood. And they're so successful at it that bookstores are becoming more and more nervous about carrying any other kind of book and the publishers are getting nervous about producing them. As the large chains swallow up the independent stores, the more commercial it all gets. We like mindless fluff. It looks cute, does little dances for us and generally leaves us the same as we were before.