>Now look at China. They decide to build it, and it gets built.

Look up "Nail Houses". The USA used eminent domain heavily in the same situation back when they were still building new infrastructure.

>Take California’s high speed rail. Every individual has the right to object.

It's not the result of many individuals objecting. It's the largely the result of a few wealthy individuals objecting. Elon Musk has admitted to publicizing hyperloop largely to take the wind out of the sails of the proposed high speed rail. American democracy is for the rich.