[thesagan]

It is complex, because the U.S. is a very, very complex society. In many parts of Europe you're looking at a much less diverse and separated population compared to that of the States. Public discussions in the U.S. have a vast number of voices coming from a similar number of interests and backgrounds. This convolutes and masks various points of public discourse in ways/degrees I'm not sure you see as much in individual European or Asian countries. But this is only my two cents.

I do admit I haven't spent much time in abroad (I'm in the U.S.), but living my whole life here I find it a full-time job at times to follow public debates in an educated manner and make meaningful decisions at the ballot box.