And if they didn't, we might have built a sustainable society faster and invested in sustainable energy sooner. It could have been done in the 80s. I know it's scary to imagine Americans driving on smaller cars and bicycles and public transport like Europeans... but we would survive it :)
Average commute time in the us is lower than almost all of europe (https://goo.gl/r8DJqz) and public transport not only needs billions in investment to be built but there are very few places where it doesn't run on subsidies. So yeah you're asking americans to a) take longer to get to work b) constantly subsidise a system that will keep on losing money. Based on the political makeup of the country i'd say you can keep on dreamin' :)
Commute times can be misleading. It takes me about an hour to get from my house in downtown Shanghai to my office on the other side of the city. However, this is about 15 minutes of walking and 45 five minutes on the metro. Even though its longer than the US average of 25 minutes, I much prefer this option.
Commuting by car is dead time. When I'm on the subway, I can read, send emails, catch up on work. Its also much better for the environment and costs a grand total of $200/year.
> b) constantly subsidise a system that will keep on losing money
If you take into account the total cost of car ownership you will see that also is heavily subsidized. From car production to roads, parking spaces, oil production... if the accounting is done properly it is obvious that when you make 100 people travel all together in the same vehicle it is a lot cheaper that using 100 different machines to move that same 100 people. Cost wise it is a no-brainier.
I agree with you that lack of political will, and also suburban landscape, are going to make it very difficult for it to happen in the USA.
