Real American Power

The almighty dollar. It might be the root of all evil, but it is perhaps the strongest tool of American foreign policy. No, we can't really wield it like an intimidating sword, but its sheer force and beauty is plenty influential.

The recent Wal-Martization of China is proof of our economic power. The world may not like American policy, but the vast Americanization taking place is rather telling.

From Reuters:

Wal-Mart Stores Inc. has agreed to acquire a Chinese supercenter chain for about $1 billion in a move that would give the world's largest retailer the biggest food and department store network in China, the Wall Street Journal reported on Monday...

Wal-Mart has made no secret of its ambitions in China. The retailer has said that its operations there could be as big as its U.S. business in 20 years. Wal-Mart currently has more than 3,700 U.S. stores, but only about 60 in China.

How do we use this power? We export freedom and put it on Wal-Mart shelves next to a yellow smiley face -always at low prices. Seriously, American products, or pro-American products based on American culture, expose the rest of the world to a dream that has been acquired by millions of Americans.

Through movies, books, music and more, the mass retail of Americanism is one of our best friends. Not only would developing countries benefit economically from American capitalist investments such as Wal-Mart, but we would benefit from the dreams that are sold.