The question on everyone’s mind, as they gaze up at China’s latest engineering marvel and simultaneously glance over the rusty, neglected, and perpetually under-construction structures here in the U.S., is a glaringly uncomfortable one: why isn’t America doing this anymore? Once the paragon of inventive spirit and industrial might, our nation somehow found itself stuck in a rut, bogged down by bureaucracy and a complete loss of the daring zest for greatness that once defined us. Somewhere along the way, we seem to have traded our Titan-like ambition for endless paperwork and a fear of taking risks that might ruffle a feather or two.
Take a peek at the recent achievement by China, creating the world’s highest bridge—a monolithic masterpiece completed in under four years—and then consider the sorry state of America’s infrastructure. On one hand, you’ve got the Chinese, slicing a 70-minute commute down to just over a minute, aiming to integrate tourism ambitions with a design that revitalizes the region and supports extreme sports. On the other hand, you’ve got Baltimore’s Key Bridge, where a cargo ship left its mark about a year and a half ago, and yet no one’s even bothered to pick up a wrench.
So, what went wrong? In the past, America set the standard. Our forebears dug the Panama Canal and completed the transcontinental railroad, both feats of engineering and endurance that required guts and determination. Nowadays, though, it appears we’re more adept at generating procedural red tape than constructing bridges. The culture of endless permits and zoning issues is anathema to any form of architectural aspiration. It’s not that we lack the ability; it’s more that our society tolerates endless delays, diminishing our ability to execute grand ideas swiftly. The bureaucratic red tape serves as a conveyor belt for mediocrity, rendering any remarkable construction effort bogged down before it even begins.
Moreover, let’s address the elephant in the room—an uninspiring cultural moment. We ought to do impressive things just because they’re impressive. There’s value in achievement for achievement’s sake, but try pitching that idea today. The contemporary obsession with the so-called “pragmatic” approach often shuns projects that don’t have a stark, immediate payoff. Our ancestors didn’t ask mundane questions about practicality when they embarked on projects that defined our national identity. They pursued the impossible because, quite simply, it was there, waiting to be conquered.
Lastly, an incessant clamor about the need for cheap labor abounds. We’re constantly told American greatness now relies on exploiting inexpensive overseas labor, conveniently forgetting how we first constructed this nation. It seems laughable, even insulting, to imply that our forebears could achieve more with less. Somehow, the can-do spirit got tangled in the web of a defeatist attitude, propagated by some leadership that hesitates to look beyond the status quo.
The bottom line is, America once thrived on a collective desire to do extraordinary things. We must rekindle that spirit. It’s not just about emulating projects like China’s bridge but reigniting the flame of ambition that makes us reach for the stars—and beyond. Red tape, bureaucrats, and negative sentiments need relegating to the sidelines while we return to aspiring for greater heights. The next generation needs to witness that our nation can, once again, achieve feats of magnificence simply because they are magnificent. Let’s strive not just for functionality but for awe-inspiring achievements that make history books, or perhaps holograms, 500 years from now.
