A flag waving moment courtesy of the BBC and IMD’s 2007 World Competitiveness Yearbook.  The US topped the ranking of 55 countries with Venezuela coming in last. 

Funny, I thought that whole "nationalize it" thing was going to work out for Hugo.

According to the project director, the US ranking is a function of:

1.  The strength of our financial market (Bud Fox included)
2.  The "ease" that venture capital can be secured (although I am sure there are a few entrepreneurs that would have chosen a different word)

Warts and all, the US economy stays strong due in large part to the free flow of capital and the optimism to build new businesses.