Sorry, Dave, I like you a lot but you are very mistaken and this shows in your words.

I have said it before. You have to go to Europe and learn its history. Your words tell me you have been encapsulated inside an Anglo nation (with a French minority) and your viewpoints declare that loud and clear. You truly do not know European history. There is not a single Europe; it did not exist and even today it is not singular, even when the EU places a single larger layer on top of the quilt.

You are incorrect when you say quasi-democracies (you are cherry-picking) and you are mistaken when no European country took over the American model (Germany after WWII took over the US system but made important improvements to it).

Also, you need to learn better how voting systems function. You have not spent much time to understand political systems. You should really go and stay one or two months in different nations.

On your list you must put Stockholm, Amsterdam, Berlin and Prague. Don't go to London, Brussels, Rome. They are either too similar or too confusing. Go, please, it will blow your mind wide open.