[rellimpank]

--unfortunately, "there oughtta be a law" was almost as (or more) common---

[ProudVet77]

When I was about 6 (1958/9) I visited Washington DC with my family. I remember visiting the old Smithsonian, as it was the only one. The National Mall was rather empty. None of the current crop of granite and marble edifices. It struck me as a "small" town, not much traffic, not too crowded.
Sadly you are right. Just as sadly people equate more as better.