Americans believe in myths about their non-conformist culture. Fact is that all cultures are highly conformist. And Americans are highly conformist in their highly consumerist culture that expresses non-conformity as a key aspect of the culture as a way to stimulate thought and creative destruction. However, at the same time there are huge barriers to taking full advantage of the non-conformist culture which is mainly money. To get money you have to conform, and to get more money you have to conform even more... while at the same time being individualistic and non-conformist in your thinking.