The fact is that their infrastructure is in a handbasket.    From Wordnik.com.  [CNN Transcript Sep 30, 2003] Reference

This country is going somewhere in a handbasket -- Soledad.    From Wordnik.com.  [CNN Transcript Oct 20, 2005] Reference

Surely they would send the handbasket back when they realized that it was empty.    From Wordnik.com.  [Question Quest]

"He told me the country was going to Rome in a handbasket, or something like that.".    From Wordnik.com.  [Supermind] Reference

A pretty little handbasket with frilly bows and ribbons ... but a handbasket nevertheless.    From Wordnik.com.  [unclebob Diary Entry] Reference

Meanwhile, the Hell-bent handbasket swung into the anteroom, and two children scrambled out.    From Wordnik.com.  [Question Quest]