re: The reason why so many of our values and traditions are being systematically erased:

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Ok, and what exactly does this have to do with what I wrote?

That what some are calling traditions and values are really just engineering by our government to manipulate us.

I remember when thrift was an American value. Now it's seen as un-American, and contrary to the growth of the economy. We are encouraged to leverage the value of our lifetime's work in order to purchase goods and services we don't need, but which help grow the economy for its own sake.

You may be too young, but I remember a time when "conspicuous consumption" was actually frowned upon in this country, now it's seen as patriotic.

So yeah, tell me all about the loss of values in America.
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The rise of the nuclear family didn't mean extended families disappeared. It just meant those extended families didn't reside in the same place.

That's right, more housing, more refrigerators, more cars... instead of furnishing just one house (perhaps with heirlooms), two houses must now be furnished (with cheap furniture you have to assemble yourself.) Hell, durable goods aren't even durable anymore. Whereas one refrigerator could've served an extended family for 30 years, now two households will each have to buy a new fridge every ten years.

Hyper-consumerism is degrading our values just as much as anything else.

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I’m with you on most of that and wish “conservatives” would ask themselves what exactly they think they’re fighting to conserve. It doesn’t seem to be our towns, our ways of life, our neighbors well-being as well as our own so that life is more pleasant for everyone, our culture, etc etc.
Do you read Wendell Berry?

That said, I don’t see how any of that devalues the nuclear family. A strong nuclear family is the optimal situation and a bulwark against manipulation by outside forces (which is not to say other arrangements can’t work when necessary), and the rampant consumerism has come at the cost of both the immediate and the extended family.

Also, I wouldn’t agree that “the government” is manipulating us, as the government isnt a thinking entity. We are being manipulated by individuals, and I would bet that it’s a really small number of individuals in control of it.

It’s just frustrating to me that so many fellow “conservatives” don’t realize or care how much we have sacrificed at the altar of economic growth. You can’t even have the conversation without being called a Communist, which is ironic.