We're the richest country in the history of the universe (not quite true, but this is something we believe) but nice things are totally unaffordable. That government can't afford to spend money on anything nice has been the mantra my entire sentient life. Thanks Reagan! Of course it was Reagan who ballooned the deficit by spending all of our money on not nice things, but it isn't polite to point that out.
These days it is considered to be a minor miracle when a bike path, or similar, is built. If current thinking had been applied throughout the entire 20th century, the US would be a complete shithole of a country.
