If one wanted to do a true root cause analysis and had the desire/power to put the USA train back on the correct track, it would not be as difficult as most assume.

It would, of course, mean that the wealthiest zip codes in the nation would no longer be those surrounding DC.

Removing The Mandrake Mechanism, fractional reserve system, and return to sound money would bring value back to real things - but remove a lot of Ferraris & Bugattis from DC and Wall St garages.

Business books and courses taught would have to be relearned if unprofitable and unsound business models could no longer expect to be kept afloat for years purely based on debt.

A "return to the real" would have to happen as those who make real things would be in far higher demand than those who create nothing of tangible value due to scarcity if the M2 (money supply) were brought back to reality.

Most importantly, doing away with lobbying & corrupt regulators/legislators who enact costly regulations only because their deep pocketed bribers/donors/Corp benefactors can afford them would radically change our business climate and rid a lot of chaff from the competitive space.

Degrees that don't teach anything useful to reality?

Well-heeled former politicians paid massive fees to bribe current politicians?

Bridges & trains to nowhere?

Government departments (incl the USMIL) who HAVE to waste money at the end of every fiscal year so their budgets aren't cut for the next cycle?

Expensive college tuition and public school budgets to fund armies of useless administrators?

All gone in a sane world that wanted to return to reality.

People will do what they're incentivized to do.

Incentivize reality, you get reality.

Incentivize insanity, you get insanity.