As an American and having lived (not visited - lived) in a number of countries besides the US, I can say with some certainty that the American ideal of the 'inh

As an American and having lived (not visited - lived) in a number of countries besides the US, I can say with some certainty that the American ideal of the 'inherent power of self-determination' is greatly exaggerated in the US and far weaker in other places. Government policy and leadership absolutely has an effect on this behavior.