It comes down to voter expectations. For example, if a European government or the government of Japan had allowed their public transit system to become even cl

It comes down to voter expectations. For example, if a European government or the government of Japan had allowed their public transit system to become even close to as bad as the systems we have in the USA, that government would not be re-elected. People in the UK love to complain about their train system, even though it is better than anything people in the USA can dream of. American voters have resigned themselves to the idea that government is going to fail to provide certain things, so they aren't surprised or outraged when that turns out to be the case, so our politicians don't fear for their jobs. Nothing will change unless politicians know they won't get re-elected if the government fails to execute.