It boggles the minds of many Americans, but a vast majority of the country doesn't know any better thanks to relative deprivation and lack of meaningful exposure to other ways of life (in other countries). That or they just "chalk it up to grit".

After living abroad as American, I can't imagine returning. I've seen too many friends older, in my same cohort, and younger suffer in unimaginable ways — many through no fault of their own.