The gringoization of the world

I just read an article in the New York Times about a town in Italy where McDonalds was unable to compete with the local foods and closed its doors (http://www.nytimes.com/2006/01/12/international/europe/12italy.html). I had to applaud this because I wish there were not so many McDonald's here in Caracas. I get a little tired of (Venezuelan President) Hugo Chavez ranting about American imperialism, but he's certainly right that corporate America and its multi-national conglomerates are very imperialistic. What we are doing, besides making lots of money, is disseminating our unhealthy lifestyle around the world. I'm told that the Venezuelan people are getting larger - i.e. more like North Americans. No great surprise when there is a McDonald's about every six or seven blocks, interspersed with Pizza Hut, Wendy's, Burger King, Domino's Pizza, Subway, and many other fast food places from the U.S. It's not only food. The malls are filled with stores from the U.S. and Europe. I look at the prices and wonder how many people can afford to shop at these stores. Oh well, many call this progress. Fast food restaurants are certainly busy. There is one McDonald's whose drive-through I cut through to walk to the metro station. If I walk by there close to opening time I see a line of people waiting for the doors to open. When it's open it's always busy, even in the middle of the afternoon.