Interesting question, McGrath. I think that perhaps the US's greatest strength is the mix of thought and expectation and experience and vitality it derives from its varied 'blood'. That mix may also be one of its greatest weaknesses.

Even its mainstream 'cuisine'. We have a wonderful heritage from many nations but we 'anglicise' it so that it's not too great a shock to mainstream palates. Thus we have 'Tex Mex' Mexican food, we have 'American Chinese' food, and so on down the line.