There is no basis for it in history. Quality of life has been steadily increasing. Most of the issues in U.S. are tied to the perportional increase, as we should be far more prosperous with how abundant our economy is. You can lean on technology as the reason... but, please... Save the doom and gloom until at least Mayans predict it or it's an interesting year... I hear 2020 is when we find out what the aliens have been doing to the soil...
http://youtu.be/71PNZH1OaW0