We all know there was a period in the recent past called: "The Gilded Age". Well, now we're living in: "The Guilt Age": It sounds similar, but it's not.
In "The Guilt Age" everyone is guilty of something and must apologize and grovel before the masses for forgiveness. It doesn't matter if they're really guilty of anything or not: like in the Inquisition, you must first admit your guilt before you can be forgiven, even if you're innocent. It's just the fashion nowadays, so get used to it.