"our generation"....is this the self centered thinking of a twenty-something? If you are in your twenties, do you realize a large percentage of "our" generation hasn't even graduated high school? Of course they aren't as informed as they need to be. Hell, they can't even vote!
"socialist europe"...I wouldn't downplay Europe too much. The have a comparable standard of living, a relatively sound Euro, and are ahead of the US on a lot social issues. Europe is no utopia, but there are much worse places to live in the world.