@bin response to, Shantanu Sharma
or playing the devil's advocate.^
I feel Americans are not complaisant. We ARE unhappy with the status quo sometimes. We are painfully aware that college is not only expensive but that the rewards are neither immediate nor as grandiose as we've hoped for with just any course of study. While college is not the answer for all, those that have taken 'in demand' studies are fairing better than most. With an 'in demand' sheep skin one can get the so called better life. More income, better home life, spouse of your dreams, or in-laws that appreciate you, well... to each their own. But I'm not convinced that most Americans believe that college education alone is the answer to their problems.

I think we are less complacent than we were in our recent past because of technology, regardless of the size of our country. What happens on the east coast can go viral in a you tube video and have an impact all over. What happens on the west coast can hit the news and cause demonstrations and outcry. Political nonsense in the Midwest can have repercussions through the states. Our lives are not vastly different from people at opposite ends of the country because we share the same stuff: Items from department stores like; menards, jcpenny, macy's, walmart, etc. Food from jewel, sam's club, piggly wiggly. There's practically a Walgreen's on every corner and an Amazon at your finger tips. We all study the same language in school. Millions of us throughout this country share stuff on social sites: ideas, beliefs, plans, and events. This brings us closer together than driving us farther apart, I believe. As far as stress, it is subjective. I imagine you can be just as stressed out farming as commuting to work on the express-way, if you let it get to you.

I believe we are constantly changing, overall I'd say we are moving in the right direction. We are far removed from the 70's, 60's, 50's, 40's way of life.

We are Americans.