A few years ago I worked for a tech company for a manager who used to work at a top law firm in Australia. She said it was there she really saw the contrast between American and Australian government in 2013.

That year the Australian prime Minister visited the office, he rode his bike to the law firm by himself. Parked the bike nearby the building and came in and went around talking the employees.

In contrast, that same year Obama had visited the same law office. Prior to his arrival background checks on all employees working that day on the main floor and the floor he would be going to. The law firm had to identify the employees that Obama would be interacting with ahead of time for further screening. Upon his arrival at the firm the first set of agents came in and cleared the main floor. A second set came in and took the elevator up to the floor he'd be visiting, cleared the floor. A few remained on the floor, 2 went to the stair well and one remained in the elevator. Then Obama pulled up in the motorcade, and was escorted into the building, handshakes were not allowed, and only 2 law firm employees were allowed to ride in the elevator with him.

Definitely 2 different worlds and America is not indicative to the "closer" community style of other countries.