If you look at other countries with massive populations like India then you'll see a significantly lower number of dollar millionaires.
These are also the people that hold the lion's share of US treasuries.
China at the moment is the major engine driving at most of the world leaving recession. You can say lots of stuff about free this and free that but when it comes to getting stuff done this is the place to be.
There are massive political issues that need sorting out over time here (particularly in terms of education), but as far as money is concerned nothing major goes down anywhere without someone here getting a slice of the pie one way or the other. I know this is quite contrary to what a lot of folks back home think, but it is non the less fact.