It only works up to the point where alcohol is going to be banned. ;)

They're rather bound by the quality of brainwashing/propaganda they and the associated media are spewing off...

That's absolutely not the case in Germany (at least in the South - no idea what the Northeners are doing ;)). Most people have 1.8L-2.0L and 25-35 mpg is more realistic as well. If you look at richer states like Baden-Wurttemberg you'll see tons of 2.5L+ engines with 3L/4L certainly not being that uncommon. Can't even count how many Porsche/Mercedes/BMW/[choose your premium car brand] I see when driving to work every day and pretty much none of them are below 2.5L. You'll have to look very hard for a 1.0L-1.6L car there. WTF do you want to do with a 1.0-1.6L car on a German autobahn anyway? Better stay behind the trucks on the right...

Is this really the case in the US of A? Sounds pretty wrong to me, although that naturally does not mean that it isn't true.

WTF does this even mean??? If I want social entertainment I go out with friends, play a game or whatever, but I'm surely not visiting any myspace pages...