Why is the United States so expensive?

And other questions about the cost of living in ‘Conversations We Are Not Having (Part 3 of 6)’

Key Points

Should the United States stop products from being exported when there is need for them at home? How much should we think locally compared to globally?
Why does a single anti-inflammatory pill cost $100 in a hospital and 3 cents over the counter?
Why is it that the United States spends more per capita on education compared to the rest of the world yet has much worse results?