America had better tech except now everything is built to break otherwise the air backed monetary system would fall apart if planned obsolescence didn't exist.
The only reason costs are so high is because money can be printed at will so your savings will always be reduced.
Sadly most people don't learn anything about finance and think stocks and bonds are good investment vehicles and fractional reserve is great.
I guess if you go to a school that was designed to make you a factory worker then you will only learn how to be a worker and not the owner.