I would argue that the U.S. has a generally more “liberal” attitude toward long-term immigrants than does the European West. In some Western (otherwise) Democracies you can literally ** NEVER** become a citizen even unto third generation in country. FWIW and very unscientifically, I have anecdotally heard two or three times from immigrants who had been in Eurpoe first that the U.S. is more open and accommodating toward them than European countries, especially as far as the “people on the ground” go. I have not heard the reverse but this IS anecdotal & not scientific, more IMO.
The hamsters must be getting tired, I just repeated someone’s post!
I can’t retype everything I said right now, but I wanted to say that I never thought that limited shop hours were an expression of conservatism. It just means that European retailers prefer to stand down on the evenings and weekends, and give everyone a break. Probably that’s more liberal if anything.
Javaman,
It depends. If the little shop at my street corner is closed is closed from noon to 3 pm, it’s because the owner thinks it has more important things to do at this time than working and selling things. But if the large department store in downtown Paris is closed on sunday, it’s because the law requires it (to protect the employees from being pressured into working during the week-end). Note that I do agree with this law, but it’s certainly not liberalism (though it’s not conservatism, either. Despite the sunday rest having its roots in christiannity, religion isn’t the reason why these laws exist today).
Perhaps in the case of Germany (or at least some german landers which are rather conservative from a religious point of view) where this kind of laws tend to be stricter than in France, religion and conservatism play a more important part, though. I really don’t know.
Concerning immigration, I’m not convinced it’s a conservatism issue, but indeed it seems to me there are important differences in the way immigration is perceived. It doesn’t seem to be an US vs Europe thing, though, but more something grounded in national cultural expectations. For instance, taking countries which have a large immigrant population, in my limited understanding, things work roughly this way :
-The UK seems to have a “communitarist” model. Immigrants can relatively easily become citizens, but would tend to live in somewhat separate communities, keeping their language, customs, etc…
-France would tend to have an “integration” model : citizenship is relatively easy to get too (jus soli, roughly similar to the US) but they’re expected to become 100% french (socialy, culturaly, etc…) ASAP.
-Germany would have a “separatist” model : citizenship is difficult to obtain (jus sanguini), and immigrants aren’t expected to become “germans”.
Of course, these are gross generalizations, but law-makers as well as the population seem to have these models in mind when dealing with immigration issues or debatting about them.
While it is true the swedish laws regarding narcotics are quite strict it’s otherwise a rather liberal country. After 10 pretty much anything goes on both state controlled and privately owned TV-stations. Seperation of state and church was completed in 2000. While there is a party with outspoken christian ideals, their support amongst the population is rather small. While we have high taxes and spend to much money on the defence it’s worth noting that health care and all state controlled education is free.
Hmm… what else? Through the years I’ve had sex ed. 4 times during school and the attitude towards youth sexuality is often very open. The age of consent is set to 15.
Next topic, gays. In Sweden gays can marry (or, rather, register partnership, it works as a marriage in all aspecs (IIRC) besides the fact that the church refuse to aknowledge it), they can do military service (which is still on conscription basis, although far from all have to do their service today) and they can adopt children. I also believe that officers are prohibited by the law to ask if a person is homosexual and if someone choose to come out, they are not removed from service.
Speaking of the military, women are allowed into all branches and different services, but it is on a voluantary basis to apply. Once they have applied they have all the rights and duties as everyone else doing military service.
And, oh, the death penalty is outlawed by the constitution.
I think, as someone put it, more conservative in some ways, less in others.
Ginger, care to elaborate a bit? I’d be interested in hearing your views.
One element I’m curious about from people who know lots of places is censorship. Like the various German laws restricting Nazi refernces and symbols. Growing up with the old "I may hate what you say, but I’ll fight for your right to say it " morality, it always seemed fairly restrictive. How do freedoms of speech compare in general.?
As far as I can tell, there’s no country where freedom of speech is viewed with more reverence than in the US.
Cyprus, a member of the EU in eastern Mediterranean, is by far the most conservative Christian country. The majority of Cypriots are Greek Orthodox. I consider it the Ïran of the Christian world".
And more necromancy. Do any Western or Christian countries still ban this abominable practice?
Excuse me?
Oh, that was humour. Forgive me, I didn’t recognise it at first.
The black magic of necromancy befuddled your perceptions. 
Humor. It is a difficult concept.
Hoo-boy do you have a surprise coming, 2002 pulykamell.
Not bad, kid.
Necrophilia, yes. Necromancy I think has been off the books for a while in most countries.
Sparc’s information on Spain in 2002 was wrong, by the way (what “harsh drug laws”, for example - “it’s ok to consume, not to distribute” laws were already in place); matt_mcl’s was correct.
Better to look at this map, based on the 2008 presidential election, and broken down by county. The divide is not North v. South, nor Coasts v. Heartland, it is City v. Countryside.
If you consider the gay marriage issue, the US is ahead of most other western countries of a christian heritage. According to the wiki article, there are 11 countries where gay marriage is fully legal, and one of those, South Africa, doesn’t meet the OP’s requirement. There are three countries where it is available in some states within the country: the US, Mexico and Brazil. Don’t know if Mexico and Brazil meet the OP’s “western” requirement.
That puts the US ahead of many western Christian countries (such as Germany, France and Italy, and the UK (although that one may change soon)) on this issue. Gay marriage is not fully accepted throughout the US, but it is available within the federation, and the tide seems to be moving generally in its favour.