So the root problem is not the American commitment to rights and freedoms (especially for the disadvantaged) that Americans discuss constantly -- often in heated, emotional or abstract terms and sometimes in frankly ideological terms. According to you the root problem is an irrational and destructive commitment to automobiles, which (at least after the 1960s) Americans talk about much less than they talk about rights and freedoms -- and when they talk about them, they talk mostly in pragmatic terms, e.g., miles per gallon, turning radius, maintenance costs and space for car seats for children.

I live in a city of 100K people, where there really aren't that many visible people with mental health issues or drug problems. I also go to a lot of city council meetings and hearings and observe local social media.

It's the cars.