Obsessed with liberty
A mandate to wear a mask and get vaccinated is seen as an infringement of freedom. What is the difference with traffic rules ?
Competitive
Not to take advantage of the other party in negotiations makes one a sucker. Trump is Exhibit 1
Religious
80% of Americans find God important. 50% of Scandinavians think so.
Litigious
The US has the most lawyers per capita. Many lawyers were needed to regulate property rights of the early settlers. Once property borders were determined, lawyers nurtured other conflicts. Conflicts are their source of income.
Common morality is limited
Ever since settlers had to fight for themselves, individualism remained the dominant mindset.
Morality is tribal and tribal identities persist
Secretive
Never tell your income or the price of valuable possessions.
Pick up the phone with "Hello". Do not give your name.
Deceptive
$ 0,99 = $1.
"Free" = Free for a month.
"Associates" = employees who earn $10/hour while the CEO 'earns' $4.000/hour.
"Career opportunity" = a low level job from which one can only go up.
"Dear friend" = the salutation on a mass mailing. I throw that mail away without reading.
I hesitated to get a US passport because one has to give up allegiance to a foreign country. Until I realized that lying made me real American.
Self deception
50 % thinks to belong to the 10% of top earners
The USA is not the most efficient. Hours worked per adult per year USA : Europe = 100 : 62