French and American: Really so different?

My wife and son just got back from Paris, and from what they told me and what has been going on lately, I'm beginning to think that the French aren't as different from Americans as many may think. I'm going to give just four examples here, and you can decide for yourself.

McDonald's: There are more and more of the restaurants in Paris. Surprisingly, it isn't just the food that attracts Parisians. In Paris, if you want to use the bathroom of a cafe or restaurant, you almost invariably have to buy something. Not at McD's. You can walk in and use a clean bathroom without buying. Americans take that for granted, but it's new in France and is a very popular idea. Unfortunately, it seems that artery clogging is becoming more common as well. The fast food craze is leading to higher levels of heart disease in France. How American is that?

Starbucks: Yes, that's right. Starbucks is in Paris and is growing by leaps and bounds. My son counted three within a few blocks of each other. Now why, you may ask, would Starbucks be so popular when you can get some of the world's best coffee at any sidewalk cafe? Besides the drinks, one reason is a very un-French reason: the drinks cost the same whether you drink it there or take it to go. In Paris, if you want to eat or drink at the restaurant or cafe, the price is higher because you are basically renting the table. However, that isn't the way in the U.S., and it isn't the way at Starbucks. You pay the same price for your beverage no matter where you're going to drink it. So, even though it goes against tradition, the Parisians are leaping at the idea. (Starbucks also does the bathroom thing that McDonald's does, but I won't go into that.)

Smoking: The French are getting ready for a ban on smoking in public places. Seems that Chirac stopped smoking a while ago and wants others to do the same. Very American, eh? Even though some are protesting the idea, chew on this fact. Another reason that Starbucks is popular in Paris is...that it is a non-smoking establishment! The French seem to be ready for the ban on smoking and there appear to be many who are already embracing it.

Politics: If you've read any of my previous posts, you know that I don't get involved in politics. But there is something similar going on in France and the U.S. that struck me, and I had to point it out. The most popular candidate for president of France right now is a woman named Segolene Royal. She is the Socialist candidate (leftist), is very attractive, has little real political experience, is a media darling, and has hoards of fans to the point where she is almost a rock star.
Where's the similarity? I present to you one Barack Obama. Let's see...left wing, attractive, little political experience, is a media darling, and has hoards of fans to the point...you get the picture.

So...are the Parisians and Americans really so far apart, or is it just another form of "let's hate someone who isn't just like us" going on? Time to quit picking on the French, folks. They're more like you than you might like to admit!