What's the world coming to? The Anti-Bronze Age

Years from now, when archeologists are sifting through the detritus of our era, they'll collectively scratch their heads; trying to determine when, exactly, it was that homo sapiens started using all those tools they had worked out to their favor - to unravel civilization as they had known it. By way of example, there are a couple of 'indicators' - which seem to stand out for their malfeasance, adding to the proof of such a civilization taking root in these trying times, at least in my corner of the world.
First off, we hear almost daily reports of trains being stopped in their tracks provoking huge delays for passengers and cargo due to the wanton theft of copper wiring along the rails.  It would appear that people are stealing the wires for resale on a mass scale, causing thousands in damages for Italy's train company.  And in the one instance in which I feel sorry for the totally fallible FS, the problem is so rampant, my suggestion would be to post police near the copper shops to question those that bring in lengths of wire that they suddenly don't know how they came across.  I suppose running CCTV cameras the length of Italy would be out of the question, but imagine the kick-back you could redeem if you so desired to try this fix. 
Closer to home, there are the trials and tribulations of the lovely monument in my piazza, for which I harbor a serious soft spot.  And even though Rome the Second Time bloggers listed it as one of the nominees in their post of 'Rome's ugliest monuments' [clearly missing the horrendous thing up the road, which you can read about here], they did remark that it has some nice qualities to it.

May the wheels of Resistance be constantly churning
 picture by bloggers Rome the Second Time

I lauded it in one of my earliest posts from way back in 2007, when I (tried to) attend the inauguration of the charming piazza they worked so hard to install, which, to this day, invites old people on park benches by day, and groups of teens by night; adding to the fabric of the neighborhood. I went back to it again, when the promises of those lofty speeches made in the piazza came to naught and again, when the President of the Municipio made good, eventually and the piazza finally was cleaned.  Through thick and thin, the monument has stood - sadly, not unscathed.  After all, those bored teens mock it up with graffiti, add to the (intentional) dents, and take their energies out on it, just because (I consider us lucky: that's a whole lot better than American teens, who take potshots instead at innocent passers-by).  To the City's defense, I have seen restorers working there repeatedly, trying their best - against the odds of teenage rebellion (post-pasta served up hot each night at 8pm) - to keep the monument largely graffiti-free, and maintain its status as a work of art that commands respect.
But this summer of discontent was too much, even for our sturdy monument.  And, this is how it appears today:

Note: Nearly all the metal has been taken from one side causing the frame
to fall in & the baskets have been wrenched away from the frame

I haven't determined whether this act of vandalism was pure malice (but if so, remnants of the destruction would have been left behind), or if someone, like with the train tracks, has decided it was a great source of metal. Either way, this sort of destruction is unconscionable, whether you think the monument is one of Rome's ugliest - or not.