"Americans are a quarter of a billion people who have almost nothing in common except for the fact they've been told they have lots in common"

This quote by Doug Coupland talks to the concept that Americans are a diverse group of individuals who originate from different backgrounds, cultures, and experiences. In spite of this, they are often told that they have a lot in common, which might not always hold true. This quote recommends that Americans may have more distinctions than similarities, and that the idea of a unified American identity is mostly a myth. It also implies that the idea of a shared American identity is mostly constructed by those in power, which it is used to develop a sense of unity and belonging among the population. Eventually, this quote recommends that Americans may have more distinctions than resemblances, and that the idea of a unified American identity is mostly a myth.