I'll check out Hillman. Also take a look at Alain de Botton and James Kuntsler, both of whom have spoken on the death of beauty in our built environment.

Regarding America, I'd add we as a nation/colonizers stole this land from developed indigenous cultures and populations, and then built up many of our structures with slave and poor immigrant blood and sweat. At risk of sounding too new age, there's a lot of psychic trauma woven into the story of America that prevent it from ever quite working, both spiritually and operationally.