Here's a nation one of the founding pillars was freedom of speech and freedom of expression. And yet we have imposed upon people restrictions on what they can say on what they can think. And the media is the largest proponent of this crucifying people who say things really quite innocently.
Advancements in technology have become so commonplace that sometimes we forget to stop and think about how incredible it is that a girl on her laptop in Texas can see photos and cell phone video in real time that a young college student has posted of a rally he's at in Iran.
Temporary success can be achieved in spite of lack of other fundamental qualities but no advancements can be maintained without hard work.