And I think the important corollary to your point, eil, is that it doesn't particularly matter whether it really IS or ISN'T yours or someone else's fault. It's your life, you have to deal with it. Take some personal responsibility for your problems. Most of the time, it doesn't matter how the situation came about, if it's your life, you are the only one who can and who ought to take responsibility for improving it.
I suspect that the reputation Americans have built for being litigious is based on a denial of the above. Why make due with your hand of cards when you can just sue someone else for dealing it?