Elite Americans have an imagination as a whole? I thought they were essentially self-advancement at all costs in their sphere of society as a result of the tautology of self-perpetuation. Those who work to self advance will be more likely to stay at the top compared to those who prioritize other things. It may be a shallow and an unhealthy 'top' like abusing steroids to win races or unsustainable business models but it does keep them at the top.
That is one of the known dark-sides of power or elites in absolutely any form. Down to the tribal elders who insist upon keeping to 'traditional ways' not out of a fear of side effects of the new but because it would undermine their power and control.
Now Silicon Valley certainly does have its sins but lets not make them a scapegoat for long preexisting conditions. That approach just gives a short-lived catharsis while failing to address the fundamental problems.
Viewing everything as a technical problem isn't even technically wrong - although in practice a given approach may be doomed to failure. It is the execution which is the issue really and that is in no way unique to them, nor is trying to choose the wrong tool for the job leading to a foregone failure.