Can a nation get motivated by another?

I know people can motivate people, but can one country motivate progress in another? I say yes, since the country is made up of thinking individuals.
The thinking evolved from my recent trip to my home country of Sweden. The kids and I went to visit for a month. I haven't been home in four years, and it was eye-opening to say the least.

Of course it was fabulous to see my family, eat all the familiar foods (and some new ones, hello black licorice/raspberry ice cream!), and expose my kids to my childhood. BUT, the greatest impression was made by the country's progress.
Sweden, and Scandinavia in general, has been progressive in environmental protection and policy for decades; something I believe shaped me and my struggles to green life here in the US.

So, as I was helping my parents clean out the summer house, we had to take a trip to the "dump".  At least that's what it used to be called. Now, it is the most amazing recycling station I've ever seen.
A neat, clean, organized drive through place to recycle almost ANYTHING. And, to top it all off, almost every Swede uses them.
On the property that used to be the "dump", there are wind turbines as well. Check out this areal photo:

 How come we can't have these kinds of places here? I understand its a big undertaking, but if we never get started, it will never be done!

Later in my trip we drove across the country to the opposite coast, and, as always, the Swedish landscape leaves me with a nostalgic, should I move home again, kind of feeling.
Intermingled with the red/white farms and fields and fields, were evenly spaced wind turbines. Again, why can't we?

As I continue my small part, I wish progress in this country could pick up pace. How do we tell all the individuals in this country about what Sweden, and other European countries, have done? If you read this, spread the word.
In the meanwhile, shop green, don't waste, reuse and recycle. And, of course, use Shaklee.