I gotta disagree. Look abroad and you’ll find other countries that are achieving much higher standards of living than the US. East Asia state, in particularly, have outpaced us in terms of health care, transportation, and education. But Mexico is closing in quick and accelerating. The BRICS, particularly South Africa, India, and Brazil, have these rapidly advancing metro-poles. We’re on the tipping point for advanced nuclear power thanks to public investment from France to China. Things can absolutely get a whole lot better.

And even within the US, we’re seeing wealthier corners of the country (your NYCs and Seattles and Lexingtons and Bostons and Salt Lake Cities) secure a kind of high quality modern lifestyle that is totally foreign to folks trapped in Birmingham, ALs or Dayton, OHs. When corners of Oklahoma can’t afford a full five day school week and neighborhoods in Louisiana are losing consistent access to electricity and potable water.

And without steady investment in infrastructure and well-managed natural resources, the things that make a place like Dubai or Vegas seem luxurious all go away. The Bellagio doesn’t work if the Hoover Dam runs dry.