This is also my take. A huge proportion of the population seems to be resting on the laurels earned by their parents and grandparents, assuming that things would never change.
I'm speaking specifically to have installed all the freeways and the dams and other stuff then letting them rot. I'm speaking to creating a great middle class then letting it rot.
The developed world is full of narcissist who really do think that they are better than a sizable portion of the world's population just because they happened to be born in their country. It's like that idiot you had to go to school with who thought he was the best thing ever just because his father was a successful car salesman. None of these people did anything to earn or deserve what they have, but feel that they are entitled to it.
I'm afraid that the term "retarded" is a technical diagnosis available within the DSM. Though society may have abused the word, it is a legitimate term.
I can tell you from experience that this is not an argument you can win. People will apparently rally behind their right to be mean. I've taken it on and been savaged for my efforts.