What I don't understand is why European attitudes haven't permeated American culture, but American culture has permeated Europe just as much as the rest of the world?
This is the trouble with most Americans, they refuse to assimilate into other people's cultures and want their comforts everywhere they go instead of learning to adapt. Look at the Middle East and Asia - there are McDonalds, KFC and Starbucks coffee shops in all the major cities.