Every culture by definition is idiosyncratic compared to others. Cultures are demarcated by their differences.
There is no objective measure by which individual aspects of one culture can be judged better than another, unless the majority of people from every culture involved in the comparison have agreed to certain principles, e.g. slavery is unacceptable.
The litter example simply illustrates a different cultural norm in a very homogenous society. The US is profoundly diverse and individualistic.
Besides, the NYC has litter, when Tokyo transit has men reading rape comics on the train. Japanese culture is not perfect, nor is any culture.
Men reading rape comics while keeping to themselves is still less of a nuisance than all the musicians, panhandlers, and people talking to themselves on the NYC subway.
Those who litter when there's a trash can nearby are not demonstrating individualism. They are demonstrating a profound LACK OF CONSCIENTIOUSNESS.
These same people vote too, you know. The nuts have taken over the nuthouse.
Fair point. But the laws of economics don't treat people differently just because they are culturally different -- supply, demand, price elasticity, cause-and-effect. If you restrict supply while demand goes up, don't be surprised that the city's real estate prices far outstrip people's incomes.
Similarly, if you loosen the limitations to development, don't be surprised to see prices come down.
If you think there's a lot of litter on the NYC subway, come and visit the Philippines and take a look at most of the streets here. It's an Asian country, but the culture is much, much different from Japan.
