I’m back in the states for holidays but this time it was such a shock to realize everything looks so old, like from the airport to the convenience stores, malls, gas stations, etc. Why does everything look like it hasn’t changed from the 90s? And I was out just for a couple of months but things look newer and shinier in Panama and El Salvador compared to here. I cannot even imagine what some of you coming back from east Asia must feel. Did our country peak in the 90s and other countries are going through their renaissance? I love the convenience of the US where everything is open 24 hrs and you can get things delivered to your door basically overnight if you pay the price but I feel like we’re stuck with very old and boring infrastructure, makes me feel almost the same way I felt when I went to eastern Europe
There are many reasons.
First, infrastructure budget. What was built decades ago when the US was at its peak vs other countries building it now. It's a cycle, more or less, but you can't keep it all up and shiny to infinity.
When comes about Airports, US is not much of a transit point for foreign pax compared with any other major airport. US airports were designed only to get you in, fly to you destination and get you out as soon as possible. They're the ugliest airports on this planet. Changi, Doha, Dubai, Munich, Frankfurt, London, Kuala Lumpur and so on are designed to get you into the airport from somewhere else, make you wait in transit and then fly you out.
Different mindset: where infrastructure is not an issue, cost efficiency is. This is something Japan has too, hence the outdated infrastructure in some systems (banking, local trains). If it works, no need for upgrades. This is where commercial buildings comes in. In Japan, the local trains are very efficient and very old and stations focus more on functionality than on being pretty. NYC subway was like this too until some time, but now it's ugly, dark, old and efficiency is rock bottom lol. Still the best in the US, but very far away from any other major transit system in Europe or Asia.
Also, keep in mind that the commercial sector in the US is suffering and thus reducing physical presence (either some places disappearing entirely, or some places are removing stuff). For example, in Manhattan at my local 7-11, they don't sell food/ sandwiches anymore from the shelve, you need to ask for it. That's because of theft.