I just returned from two weeks in Japan, and I have to be honest, it really opened my eyes to how far behind the U.S. is falling in so many basic ways. Some things that stood out: - In two weeks across some of Japan’s most densely populated cities, I saw only two visibly homeless people. - I saw one person who appeared to be struggling with addiction. - High-speed rail made affordable, clean, efficient transportation the norm, not a fantasy. - I never once felt unsafe letting my kids walk freely beside me in public. - Despite having far fewer public trash cans, Japan’s streets had a fraction of the litter. - The country’s reduced income inequality was visible everywhere, from housing to public services. I already know what some right-wing folks will say: “It’s because Japan has low immigration” or “It’s not run by Democrats.” But those are lazy excuses and distractions from the real issues. The truth? We’ve normalized dysfunction in the U.S., and we make excuses for it instead of demanding better.