It's not just your imagination. Each succeeding generation really is weaker and less worthy than its predecessor. This fact is becoming increasingly evident throughout the world.

Today's children act in ways that are less socially acceptable than their parents. This does not mean that the parents exhibited admirable traits or that they were marvels of propriety. However, the children seem to be bent on pushing back the barriers even more.

It's not just propriety. Traditionally, we read that the period of time before the coming of the Mashiach is expected to be filled with increasing chutzpah. We certainly see this happening.

This issue is not limited to ourown times. The righteous representatives of each generation usually believe that their peers have reached the lowest possible level, and that it can deteriorate no more. However, as that new, debased level becomes the standard, the subsequent generation sinks lower.

Have we reached the bottom? Probably not. It can get worse.

Can anything be done about this situation?

Perhaps.

However, it's good to be part of a more mature generation that can chuckle at the antics of the younger people. We can cheerfully say that we expect them to fix up the decadence of their generation.

They, in turn, may argue that it was not fair for us to have left them with such a big job. We messed up the world, they say, and we should straighten it up before we leave.

They are right, of course. But we, the older generation, are not likely to fulfill our obligation. Yes, our generation was bad. Yes, our generation provided the fertile soil for subsequent generations to act in the weak way that they do. Yes, that is unfortunate. Perhaps we should take our share of the blame. Perhaps we should clean up our own mess.

C'est la vie.