"The sad truth is that we have never had a shared morality." Maybe so Charles, but for awhile this country seemed to have a conscience, a basic sense of right and wrong that could be appealed to, even if it wasn't universally shared and adhered too. But maybe that has just been a delusional wish or belief  on the part of a white guy, who like you, is in his twilight years. At any rate and for whatever reasons, I agree with Mr. Gilbert, at present, "we are a nation adrift". So what are we (more specifically I) going to do about it?