Rav said:
- talk about national politics - different political parties, systems, politicians. You could have a Republican/Democrat debate now couldn't you?
We have city, county, state, and national politics. One state's political climate can vary profoundly from that of another. The politics of one city or county also vary more than you seem to think.
Rav said:
- Food. I am not talking about some regional dishes, I am talking about day to day eating and drinking habits - I am rapidly gaining weight in the UK. Do you think your moving from, say, New England to California would make you gain 1lb. every two weeks?
Move from, say, California to the deep South and your eating habits will change. Again, there is more variance than is thought.
Rav said:
- Architecture. Dutch architecture is unique. German Architecture is unique. English Architecture is Unique. American suburbs look the same. American Urban centers look the same.
That is more a matter of them not having as much history behind them as those in Europe. Still, the city centers of, say, New York and San Francisco, or Cleveland and Seattle, are very different.
Rav said:
- Products for sale. I can't get my favourite beer in the UK anywhere. Period. The thing is, I am NOT drinking from a microbrewery. I am drinking Belgiums biggest export to the Netherlands. I can't get it in the UK at ALL. Bud pretty much sells all over the US doesn't it. Or Wendy's. Or KFC. Sure as hell I can't find a Febo in the UK.
There are many, many regional products that are not available in different regions of the US. The ones that are best known are, indeed, available just about anywhere - Coke, Budweiser, etc. But they certainly are nowhere near being the only ones filling their niches. This has begun to change, somewhat, but has not resulted in a totally homogenous set of products. It wasn't that long ago that Coors beer was only found out in the mountain states.
Rav said:
- German society is very close to Dutch society. However, unless I take a course in German etiquette, I'd make 6 faux pas in an introductory meeting with a German business partner's wife, 3 of them in the first 30 seconds! So what would happen if I move 800 miles south to Italy instead of the 100 miles east to Germany form the Netherlands? Now, you do that East Coast/west coast comparison..
Hmm. Well, I worked for years unloading trucks, and we had truckers in from all over the US. Sometimes there would be truckers from, say, Missouri (no offense to anyone from the "Show Me" state) whose accents were so heavy as to be difficult to understand. However, you're right; in general the difference isn't that great. But it can still be found.
In general, I understand your point. However, some of the examples you make are more complicated than presented. But, yes, I do agree that the US is more homogenized than Europe.