American Influence and Living the Dream Outside of it

Does the American dream still exist despite America’s troubled economic teams? Did the dream ever exist in the first place? Well, I guess that depends on who you ask. One thing for sure is that the vast influence the United States has globally is astonishing. Typical American business including the Coca Cola Company and McDonalds, to name few of many, can be found all over the world. In many of these hundreds of countries other than the country of origin, the USA, American brands sell their products for more expensive than they would be in the US. For example, a can of coke in the US may cost 50 cents whereas in Mexico, the same can of coke would cost upwards of around 70 cents. I have noticed that the McDonalds value menu in Mexico has been significantly reduced with the normal “value items” being much more than the 1 dollar that is advertised.

So this is a global phenomenon, hundreds American business stretch in almost every country on the planet and marking up the price. Whether it be food items of brand-name clothing such as Abercrombie, American Eagle or Hollister. Nonetheless, despite the sometimes 3 to 4 times mark-up on many of these items people around the world, even those who aren’t in the greatest financial situations try to settle for these brand names even if it means purchasing sometime with a domestic name takes pennies out of one’s wallet. Why? There must be some type of ideology out there that people want to know what it is like experiencing something almost exactly as it is in the United States. I mean, let’s face it. Let’s face it a McDonald’s Big Mac isn’t going to taste much different in Brazil than it is does here. Let’s not forget who wants to be caught wearing your X domestic brand when you can have you American Ralph Lauren look. A lot of people with any ability to afford such a brand name have shown an unwillingness to settle for anything less when it comes to looks.

It seems almost baffling that the McDonald’s or KFC’s abroad (both chains I am not particularly fond of) get massive lines of customers while your family-owned restaurants or domestic chains get little to no support. CEO’s stationed in the US are receiving massive revenue for products being sold abroad. Whether other countries are to seriously blame for their weaker economies and overwhelming dependence on the US is a topic of another discussion. One thing for sure is that America’s influence has been stretched out with a remarkable amount of success. Maybe the American dream doesn’t involve going to the US at all. After all, many can recall the utter disappointment witness when living in the United States and realizing that the “land of opportunity” was hardly more than a catch phrase. Maybe the American dream is merely having the opportunity to sit down, relax, and enjoy your Whopper and a Coke.

Acceptable Form of Racism?

In the United States, many Americans, in fact probably the majority of white Americans have had a prevailing negative attitude towards Mexican immigration. Not only do many people put an unnecessary stigmatization on illegal immigration, but American society has gotten to the point that illegal immigrants have been treated as inferior beings and have been labeled as "criminals" simply because of harsh U.S. law that makes it virtually impossible for Mexicans to migrate into America.

While I consider myself to be moderate, many people know my strong liberal views on immigration. Immigration is the fuel of America’s economy and illegal immigration is a necessary aspect of it. For me, this characterization of “illegal” immigration is preposterous considering the average Mexican immigrant is in America for one reason and one reason only – work. Additionally, there is a labor shortage in many American businesses and small business owners would have a virtually impossible time competing if they couldn’t hire illegal immigrants. There is simply not enough people to fill some of these minimum wage jobs.

I have gotten sick of this. There are way too many Americans who have racist views towards immigration including evil Senator John Kyl who now plans to build a fence and deport all immigrant families. People like Kyl could care less how many immigrants die trying to cross the border in search for a better life. While in Arizona where I live there are several enlightened Americans thanks to the beneficial influence Mexican can immigration can have, there are also several other Americans who have the prevailing attitude that Mexican immigrants simply don’t belong. On more than one occasion I have heard shouts telling immigrants, “Go back to where you came from” or “Your not wanted here!” I have a hard time understanding how that could be possibly be acceptable. I don’t see too much difference between these “Go back to Mexico” chants and the obviously racist remarks of “Go back to Africa!” in the Jim Crowe south when racism and segregation was extremely prevalent. Yet, somehow it is not exactly racist to have these harsh opinions of Mexican immigrants. To me this is just baffling. I thought our society advanced past that. Anyone who has had the pleasure to work in an immigrant rich area knows the great cultural and economic influence that immigrants have provided.