One problem for those of us who stay home is that the only folks from the other side of the ocean that we ever see are those who cross the pond to visit our countries. Those who can afford world travel are not generally typical of their countrymen ~ and neither are those so determined to travel that they do so when they really can't afford it.

The stereotypical "Ugly American" tourist is not the only kind of person you'll encounter if you come here. (I would hope that, even when observed abroad, not all American travelers conform to that awful model.)

As others have already noted, the US population extremely diverse, and the society as a whole is quite democratic and open to upward mobility. Anyone can become anything, or at least can daydream about bettering themselves. There is probably less class consciousness and greater informality in daily life here than on the other side of the Atlantic.