I think its very difficult to assess the "quality" of Americans. On the other hand, I think it does make sense to assess the "access to opportunity" of Americans. I propose that this is a better metric to evaluate progress.

Here are the findings from the State of Opportunity in America report published by the Opportunity Agenda organization:

"The number of uninsured Americans—more than 45 million in the most recent U.S. Census estimate—has reached a record high. Immigrants, minorities, and low-income families are more likely to be uninsured than their counterparts. Most of the uninsured are in working families, and all are at greater risk of health problems and financial ruin.

Wage inequality is now greater than it was three decades ago. Wages increased less than one percent in adjusted dollars between 1979 and 2003 for those in the bottom tenth of wage earners, but increased by 27 percent among the top wage-earning decile during the same period. White men enjoyed the greatest income growth over the last three decades, while an increasing share of Hispanic men earned poverty-level and near-poverty-level wages.

The gender wage gap has narrowed over the last three decades, but women still earn 81 cents for every dollar that men earn. In addition, women with higher levels of education currently face a larger wage gap relative to comparably-educated men than that of less-educated women.

Although a growing share of Americans owns their home, rates of homeownership among most racial and ethnic minorities lag far behind that of whites. And homeownership has declined over the last thirty-five years for those in the lowest income quartile, in contrast to the modest increases seen among higher income groups. Barriers to opportunity for homeownership are exacerbated by persistent discrimination in mortgage lending and home sales.

Following at least three decades of increases, concentrated poverty has declined since the 1990s. But poor female-headed and minority households are increasingly more likely than poor white households to live in neighborhoods with high levels of poverty."

We are progressing. we've been progressing since it was created. what have we progressed in? technology, medicine, easier way of living.

lets face it, we can never really know what the "greater good" will be, so why restrict commercial growth with strong government based on the ideology that capitalism is hurting the people?

Psychologically, progression in the work place and earning what you make is the true source of happiness. not keeping the people in borders and telling them that wanting money and material possessions is a mental illness, and you require "re-education".

now, of course the completely free market is also bad, but we do have a system that's sort of trying to keep it free yet safe. although, we seem to just be restricting it more and it isn't protecting the folks at all, so we do need reform on that. but i ask you... isn't the PS3 or 360 awesome? when you play it and compare it to the Super Nintendo... don't you just think "fuck yeah"?

we are progressing in what can be physically proven. and technically, that's what counts (since we can pretty much prove it). businesses expand, deals are made, people get awesome shit to play, and Americans work hard for their living, which gives them a sense of self accomplishment. Hell, i payed for my first car, and i just felt so much like God the first day i took a ride.