It's due to framing of how Americans view taxes.  It is seen as money being taken away rather than invested into the society.  I've tried to explain the merits of medicare for all in the US, but I get a lot of resistance from people who'd rather pay insurance companies than a tax.  Oddest part is some of these people will admit they are looking forward to being on medicare when they are of age, but still don't want it expanded.  I think attitudes are changing, but be on young (under 40) people to vote in large numbers to see a shift in mentality.

That's painted by how easily observable it is at how badly the government handles everything. Hard to trust when the end product is always worse. Even in commonly accept public services, it's hard not to think that just about anyone could do a better job at it.

After all, when the private sector is allowed to do whatever it wants, systemic problems simply don't arise.  And there aren't certain areas where economy of scale improves either. 

That's painted by how easily observable it is at how badly the government handles everything. Hard to trust when the end product is always worse. Even in commonly accept public services, it's hard not to think that just about anyone could do a better job at it.

Prepare to get our asses kicked.

China has a trade imbalance in their favor, a growing local market for their own goods and a massive trump card known as US debt ownership.  The Donald is so in over his head on this that he needs a telescoping periscope to take a peak on China's level.

In cases where the private sector is better I am fully in favor of it.  To me the question in every sector of a society should be, "Where are we ranked? If someone is better at it, how, and can we emulate their success?"

The idea of quitting because it is hard goes against who I think we should strive to be as a people.  We created NASA and did the seemingly impossible task of the Apollo missions.  We have a massive economy, it is not beyond us to find better ways at healthcare, education, and infrastructure where we lag far behind many countries who have less resources.

Well, by that same token, the best schools and doctors in the world are in the US, but the bottom level of care and education is so much lower than the rest of the 1st world. That averages out to the US being pretty mediocre in those rankings. Unless the federal government has strong control over local schools (much like China has much tighter controls in place for schools), then a place as large as the US will never be top 5 in education. Far too much disparity in singular cities, much less the quality differences state by state.

The same follows with infrastructure. States that have prioritized it and used federal funding well have done very well at keeping themselves in check. Other states completely squander it and can't even plan for next week, much less how to prepare for growth of years to come.

Well, by that same token, the best schools and doctors in the world are in the US, but the bottom level of care and education is so much lower than the rest of the 1st world. That averages out to the US being pretty mediocre in those rankings. Unless the federal government has strong control over local schools (much like China has much tighter controls in place for schools), then a place as large as the US will never be top 5 in education. Far too much disparity in singular cities, much less the quality differences state by state.

The same follows with infrastructure. States that have prioritized it and used federal funding well have done very well at keeping themselves in check. Other states completely squander it and can't even plan for next week, much less how to prepare for growth of years to come.

Well, by that same token, the best schools and doctors in the world are in the US, but the bottom level of care and education is so much lower than the rest of the 1st world. That averages out to the US being pretty mediocre in those rankings. Unless the federal government has strong control over local schools (much like China has much tighter controls in place for schools), then a place as large as the US will never be top 5 in education. Far too much disparity in singular cities, much less the quality differences state by state.

The same follows with infrastructure. States that have prioritized it and used federal funding well have done very well at keeping themselves in check. Other states completely squander it and can't even plan for next week, much less how to prepare for growth of years to come.