Think about the decades of energy or oil, being wasted delivering cheap consumer products across vast oceans and continents. And the constant exploration and production results to accommodate the wast.
In my opinion, two things have “bumped” the apple cart. Nine eleven and lack of discretionary spending and tax paying by young people that can’t afford to leave home. Tax absorber paychecks are ok, but tax payer checks in many cases, don’t have to pay.