I really don&#x27;t think class and pedigree mattering is an American thing. I suspect you made the common error of pointing out something good about one of the ultra highly developed European countries, noticing that it&#x27;s not the case in the poorer and more unequal US, and inexplicably thinking the US is the outlier.<p>Edit: just to expand on this, the problems with the US are a result of the complicated system of cultural, political, and institutional issues. There isn&#x27;t a Dictator of America who can wake up tomorrow and decree that everyone will believe in some set of enlightened values. So whenever I hear &quot;I can&#x27;t believe Americans do&#x2F;think&#x2F;believe X, that&#x27;s so silly!&quot; from Europeans, I can&#x27;t help but think it&#x27;s no more helpful than &quot;isn&#x27;t it quaint that Syrians care so much about religion&quot; or &quot;why can&#x27;t Jews and Palestineans just get along?&quot;