The answer is obvious to anyone not voluntarily blinded and not asking for permission to see things as they are rather than as they’ve been instructed. Among many things, money spent on empire-building or other foreign ‘aid’, and money spent on those who consume more than they produce, and who multiply their numbers while being provided for, is money that is not spent on infrastructure. No need to learn from the fall of Rome. Just open your eyes and look around.
The fall of Rome was caused by socialism.
And danged if this bridge isn’t being neglected for exactly the same reason.