The real power of Democracy...

It is true that the power of democracy comes from freedom. Voting is cool, and anyone who blogs or reads appreciates freedom of speech. These are fine concepts and undoubtedly required for democracy. However, while they might sustain a democracy, they don't start one. The work of starting a democracy is done by freedom's bastard children....
...I don't want to get all hippie on anyone here, but real power of freedom, the one that brought down the Iron Curtain, the one that keeps tyrants and fundamentalists awake at night is the wicked, wild, triumverate of

SEX

DRUGS

and ROCK AND ROLL

As cruel as it is to export Baywatch, it's ultimately more effective at spreading democracy than exporting tanks. (And curiously, it brings money into the country rather than out)