Something else entirely. Americans are disgustingly irresponsible. Using any metric you care to (personal savings, personal debt) we are lousy at planning for the future and the executing in a reasonable timeframe.

This is one of the reasons why abortion is so popular in America. Unlinke Europe, it's actually used as a form of contraception over here by many. Wake up one day, realize 'crap, things are getting out of hand', a quick trip to the clinic and viola, all problems gone, nice and neat.

It saddens me to say it, but the single differentiating factor that explains why the USA does things like this is simple: collectively, we are the most irresponsible people on the planet.