Search Amazon for books on lobbying and advocacy and you will find more than 9,000 on the subject. It does not take 60 years to understand the American system of checks and balances. All you need is a cause, conviction and the tenacity to keep pushing your message until it is heard and repeated by congressmen, senators, the media, influential personalities and the president. Mobilize networks of mutually-interested individuals to muster electoral money and resources for candidates that supports your cause, and, voila! Welcome to influence. To have the world’s strongest economic power as an ally, learn the local vernacular and the ideological concepts that resonate. A little bit of democracy and a whole lot of fiery advocacy for a few decades or so should earn the leaders of your cause a regular spot to speak at congress and, if you’ve manage to scare the politicians enough about their dependence