I can agree that the american transparency is a model, even if it fails some rare times (what I hate the most is when they do the whole circus around a terrible lie, with all the appearance of transparent government, but it's rare enough to be forgiven).

Not sure what is has to do with the initial problem that spawned the transparent mea culpa though, which is due to a sort of reckless optimism and an inability to look abroad for better ideas. I think they call it "American Exceptionalism" or some such there ? Even your answer seems to be that you fucked up but at least you're not as bad as ... the French ? What ? :D