Oh, I think what Philip is saying about America is true as well--it's got to mean something to him to have reliable food and water. If it wasn't real for him he probably would never have even thought of those examples of things that were good in the US. I can just see it also as a metaphor in a meta way. Elizabeth is, I think coldly fanatical about it. I was thinking about this again in this week's rewatch when Nina was saying that her generation is comfortable with the consumer goods etc. I think plenty of people always felt like Nina and Philip, but maybe there used to be more fanatical people like Elizabeth saying that was terrible.

Do your parents watch the show too?