I've done a bit of traveling (continental US only) in the last year too and I think the fact that most cities on all coasts have a very similar feeling is indication that the US as a whole is literally broken.

I've been to North West US, East Coast, Southern US, South West US, and I live in a West/Midwest state.

Loved all the places I visited but I was highly aware of how busted and broken down a lot areas were, even the streets, even in "nice" areas.