I think our myopic political leaders, fools, wedded to the idea that tomorrow will be richer (i.e. consume) more than today, where inflation of expectations is, indeed the expectation.
Recent discussions about HS2, costing £80bn, and providing fast transport links between cities, is irrational.
Our nation makes 4.3billion local bus journeys a year, a number which has declined by circa 4% over the last decade. Outside London, local buses are expensive and infrequent. I would say, scrap HS2, and mostly state fund all local bus journeys in England/Wales (excluding London).
The country could pay £4bn per year for 20 years, mostly funding all local bus journeys. Perhaps reduce all fares outside London to 50p per journey. Bus usage would increase, the less well off would disproportionately benefit, car usage would decrease.
Whilst I am (in my heart) a Londoner, I perceive the South East has benefited whilst the rest of the country has not.