Americans tend to spread decision-making authority across multiple parties rather than concentrating it in single authorities. Their governmental structures separate powers; their organizations push decisions down hierarchies; their markets distribute economic choices across countless participants.
This reflects genuine suspicion of concentrated power. Americans accept that distributed authority creates inefficiencies—slower coordination, inconsistent outcomes, difficulty achieving unified direction—as costs worth paying to prevent the dangers of concentration.
When you encounter American systems, expect to navigate multiple decision-makers rather than finding single authorities who can simply decide. Expect negotiation among parties with different authorities. Americans naturally ask why any single party should hold unchecked power and what mechanisms exist to prevent abuse.
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