Why do we want to be like Europe?

“When we get piled upon one another in large cities, as in Europe, we shall become as corrupt as Europe.” Thomas Jefferson.
Though a seemingly unrelated quotation I put it forward here to illustrate just how Americans felt about Europe until recently. Americans, by and large, seemed to feel that Europe was a place full of corruption, immorality, excess and intolerance. European society and especially governments were felt to be corrupt to the core and unwilling and unable to allow the people to live in true freedom. It was a place of religious intolerance, fiscal intemperance and suffered from a terrible lack of common sense. By and large, Americans did NOT want to be like Europe. They wanted an open and free society where individuals mattered and common sense reigned supreme. They wanted a society where tolerance, civility and hard work would be able to raise a man above his situation. They wanted an end to class limitations and entitled nobility. They wanted a country where government served its people and answered to its people.
How is it, then, that so many Americans are rushing to be like Europe? Frankly, in two hundred years, very little has changed in Europe. Why would we want to be like Europe? Class struggle is still a reality there as is intolerance of every kind (which is funny because they boast of being the MOST tolerant). A sense of entitlement has stifled every segment of society (rich and poor) and has long since strangled their common sense about fiscal and societal matters. It is altogether, "...a silly place." (Monty Python)
Why are we so eager to pay higher gas prices and higher prices for energy, food and other basics of life like they do in Europe? Why are we as eager to surrender our sovereignty before a tiny muslim minority as they are doing in Europe? (Though it won't be a tiny minority in France for much longer.) Why have we been SO eager to pile up together creating large cities....
Our forefathers escaped the cesspool that Europe had become. It was extremely difficult and cost them everything they had. Why are we so eager to flush it all down the toilet and remake America so that it is just "as silly" as Europe? It makes NO sense to me...but then, I guess that means I am still an American - addicted to common sense.