Examples of Hegemony in society now

If half the 2006 DOD budget of $442 billion (not counting $85 billion supplemental) were invested elsewhere (infrastructure, education, subsidies, direct foreign aid) would the rate of return be higher? Has anyone tried to quantify the value of geo-political capital that hegemony provides? Is it worth the investment? Serious answers only please, take your vitriol elsewhere. don't like hegemony? Fine, I understand that it can be loaded... how about preeminance? No such thing as geo-political capitial? I strongly disagree, our policies and international presence affords us semi quid pro quo opportunities. Case in point, the unedited Blix Report prior to Operation Iraqi Freedom. Kofi Annan was in the process of being marginalized in the US and could not deny America's request to see the unedited report. The only other person with the authority to deny us access was the president of the UN, at that time the Colombian ambassador. The US had no leg to stand on in demanding the unedited report, in fact the demand itself was absurd and could ONLY be made by (reinforcing my point) a hyoer-power/hegemon. Colombia couldn't say no, because Uribe is tied at the hip to Bush... and a debt is owed the US for Plan Colombia and the ARI. This is what I am describing when I say "geo-political capital".

hi guys! does anybody know what is the relationship between the ideological interpellation and the hegemony of the ruling elite? and if u please, can u site examples? i find these questions very critical, and difficult. thanks.