Problem is that the US isn't Australia.
That part I agree with you on, but not for most of the reasons you've listed.
The US has a lot of different ethnic and racial groups
In 2010, 27% of Australian citizens were born overseas (up from 22% in 2006). This is expected to reach 1/3 of our population by 2050. People from almost 200 different countries became citizens of Australia last Australia Day (Jan 26).
Top 10 countries of origin by total number: UK, India, China, Philippines, South Africa, Malaysia, Sri Lanka, Rep. of Korea, Vietnam and Iraq.
Top 10 fastest growing countries of origin (% relative to existing population here): Bhutan, DR of Congo, Nepal, Burundi, Liberia, Venezuela, Sierra Leone, Myanmar, India and Mexico (Afghanistan is #11).
I wouldn't call us homogeneous by any means.
a lot of distrust for the government
We have plenty of that, believe me. Our politicians here don't tend to have as well-off friends as in the US, but everyone still assumes a high level of distrust along with constant lies and backstabbery. A few years ago we got a new Prime Minister in the middle of a term after their own party decided the PM wasn't doing the right thing by their buddies in the shadows and they swapped him out for a new one. Most of us didn't even consider that was possible at the time.
and a history of just ignoring the law.
We also have more than our share of that. We even have a very odd (as far as I'm concerned) affection for a historic figure by the name of Ned Kelly who had an penchant for robbery and killing police officers. None of this Robin Hood giving any of it to the poor business, just the stealing and killing. Grown men have been wont to tattoo his last words before his hanging 'Such is Life' across their chests over the past 10-15 years.
The US also has firearms as part of the national culture.
You definitely do have that.
