We also have Big Government, which the enviros love and worship, to blame for a lot of this too. Put responsibility on zoning laws they pass that make no sense.
These socialist enviral Nannys are truly vicious and work 24/7 to limit anything of progress. Some of the worse the well off who just moved into a community! They don't have to work, and they don't want anyone else moving into their new shangra la!
When a state like Oregon or this state re this thread does this, I agree with you re the size of big government. However some of the worse Nannys live in the smaller cities. They control the city councils and mayor's office. If they thought that they could by with banning breathing, they would try it. Of course the ban would not apply to them!