One major problem I see in USA is that plenty of Americans will buy crap without being forced to do so. And I see many instances of American businesses putting plenty of effort into stifling competition (can one say "Microsoft tax"?) and using psychologists to develop ads targeting youth to get "brand loyalty" as opposed to developing better products.
The taste quality of the food that I experience at McDonald's (infrequently in my case as is preferable) should be an example.
Heck, American dollar stores even manage to sell lightbulbs that are substantially inferior to ones that don't cost more at "big box home centers" (though the supermarkets get a lot more for "good light bulbs" and major chain drugstores get more still). It appears to me that at least some American businesses live from many Americans being ignorant or stupid. For that matter, with the gigatonnage of disinformation I see being spewed my way, I suspect much of "American business model" is doing other than competing to efficiently provide more for less.
- Don Klipstein ( snipped-for-privacy@misty.com)