"What are the root causes of this crisis of confidence?"
Exactly. The entire concept of "root causes" seems to be conveniently escaping many people, as if this was a totally unpredictable astronomical phenomenon akin to a giant asteroid hitting Earth!
Or better yet: one evil, all-controlling "Other" has suddenly seized control of the universe and he's the one who sent this asteroid crashing down on our poor, fiscally responsible, undeserving heads.
Sure.