Agreed on the overreaction thing. When I explain America to non-Americans, I tell them that most of our weirdest behaviors and practices make sense if you assum

Agreed on the overreaction thing. When I explain America to non-Americans, I tell them that most of our weirdest behaviors and practices make sense if you assume everyone's main concern at all times is never to ever be, personally, blamed for or responsible for anything—external costs of bringing about that state of things, be damned.