What makes Telefunken tubes sound better?

Schubert, Both you and I had humble beginnings and did rather well. That is the exception, not the rule.

Mapman makes a good point above. I have referred to it as a culture of mediocrity. Since I have not lived in Germany, I am going to defer to your judgment. Stipulating that what you say about class distinctions is true, the question becomes to what extent is the distinction in classes in the US actively vs passively supported. Is the distinction one that is actively enforced, or a natural outcome of a culture of mediocrity?

I'm still looking for a good history book on the 30 years war. Double clicking on your comments re Luther, Bismark etc., it could be argued that everything on your list directly or indirectly derived from the Lutheran Reformation.

I suppose what is better is largely a matter of perspective.

I doubt if the the most least privileged children born in the USA were born in Germany their fates would be any better. It's a pretty crowded place already, isn't it?

Anyway, who cares or is even to say what country is better or not and what was done years ago, except to learn and not repeat the same mistakes.

The grass is always greener....,as they say.

I suspect that most things GErmany does is done well, especially when it comes to applications of technology and engineering.

But there are many other things not done in Germany at all.

The US has always been more about opportunity and teh "frontier mentality" that has not existed in Europe for many many years. Lets not get into frontier mentality at whose expense...that's a whole other can or worms.

But with that mentality comes a certain acclimation towards taking risks. That's what drives innovation. US has and remains pretty good at that. But for every innovator, there will also be many slackers. That's just the way it is.

@Geoffkait- It's interesting how broadly a topic can get
off course. Back to your conversation: My comments were
restricted to small signal, nine pin miniatures. All my
favorite octals originate from the 40's and are military
designated, especially the Sylvania 6SN7W(JAN-CHS,
metalbase/tall) and Tung-Sol 6SN7GT(JAN-CTL, round plate).
I'm currently using those as phase splitters and
drivers(respectively), in my monoblock amps. I cherish
them, as the best of the best octals, followed by the
Syvania VT-231 & Ken-Rad 6SN7GT(JAN-CRC), both bottom
gettered. BTW: I love chopped liver, especially on a good
crusty rye.

The USA is a culture of mediocrity. because that is what those who control it want it to be.
As a brilliant Puerto-Rican engineer friend of mine says, " The US in not a country ,its a place where people happen to live in proximity"
The German elites run their country on a lets all pull together basis, American elites on the ancient but ever effective divide and conquer basis.Which is why income inequality is 10X as high in the USA.
In the last month World Bank run a BIG survey whether folks thought their country was on the right path, Germany led the WORLD with 85% saying yes. USA was in the 30's.
F-ing simple as that.

Fan, try a slender volume in the" Problems in European Civilization " series published by D.C Heath and Company
Library of Congress64-21697
" The Thirty years War" Problems of Motive,Extent and Effect
Short essays by about 20 scholars so you get the gamut of views.
IMHO as in 90% of "Religious" wars it was about money and power by those running the show.