There is this sense that the hard streets are harder. That people are more cynical, sarcastic and cutting than ever. That the drugs are more effective, and more prevalent. That there are more guns, and more people willing to use them.
That the bonds of society are frayed. Less loyalty. Less trust. Less love. More money, less well-distributed amongst the herd. Everything seems faster, more connected, and less fulfilling or enlightening. Huge gobs of money are lavished on people who maximize human trivialities - see the radio charts, the movie charts, the Wall Street fat boys.
Maybe it's just a sign of "growing up." Of getting older and seeing things with a colder eye. But the hard streets seem hard, really, really hard.