The post war technology spawned a boom in all of aviation. Veterans education funding made it possible for most everyone to pilot a personal aircraft. Now the government is partly supported by airline aviation which employs many and puts lots of money into the economy. Even the GA of the rich individual and corporate America gets little benefit from the government for what they pay. As the WWII pilots and businessmen retire from general aviation, it is leaving a large void within those still participating.
New aviators are slow in joining because the costs of flying have gone up drastically.
Other recreational opportunities have become real competitors to aviation. The saving grace for GA survival is our youth and our existing infrastructure. The rewards to the pilot are the genuine smiles on the faces of the kids, the pure joy of showing them our world of flight, and the knowledge that these kids will at the least not be the ones trying to shut down the local airport. The Eagles program has been so successful that additional programs and money commitments are going forward. AOPA has another good program to get new pilots involved in GA now by encouraging pilots to sponsor and mentor their friends and associates.