Nope, there are certainly no quick fix solutions to any of this. It doesn't help that our news is lowest-common-denominator and simple appeasement to the masses.
I look, personally, to improving our education system as a long term solution for a lot of our ails. Unfortunately for that idea, that is also prone to sad debate as a public education is looked upon either with distrust, or as if it should be treated like a lowest-common-denominator business (I'm thinking standardised testing). Regardless, I believe in the benefits of a strong, community centered and driven education system as a means to educating for rational thought and debate.