The people in the US are the ones being ground under the thumb of big business. People in Denmark are not obedient they are just not being horribly oppressed.
And yes, the US is comparable to the EU, being composed of many different states with varying policies. But overall, the US is far more anarchistic (or libertarian if you like) than the EU in its domestic policy.
I don't think it means what you think it means.
I would say that a nation that cares for its citizens and acts responsibly towards its environment is being effectual.
The result: depending in which state you live, the US is becoming more like Brazil or Mexico (fast) or like Denmark (slowly, but it is happening).
Allow me to paraphrase a former acquaintance from college who was a night shift custodian and admitted part-time crack dealer.
>"I lock my doors before I get out [of] my driveway. Those crazy n-----s will kill you."
I spent many evenings playing CS with this person in IEEE labs late at night. He very rarely spoke with the tone and seriousness as during that conversation. He lived a few blocks from the university.