Andrew McGhie, a Lamu-based estate agent, says that Kenya's coast tugs at people's heart strings, not just their wallets.

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But whether the centa-millionaires open their wallets or not, Asian economies are confronting some tough fundamentals.

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Even a commercially minded lender could not sit by as peers opened their wallets.

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Now, that will have a tremendous impact not just on Americans and their pocketbooks and wallets in terms of the cost of fuel and how much they spend on it, and that will be significant savings for the American people -- it will also enhance our energy independence by reducing our demand on oil and, therefore, demands for foreign oil imports.

WHITEHOUSE: Press Briefing

Though survey evidence shows that the British are less satisfied with their health service than other nations are with theirs, and want more money spent on it, come election time they vote with their wallets and choose governments that promise not to put taxes up.

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Meanwhile, those who still have not chosen between the two candidates will be voting with their wallets in November.

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It does not mean that either companies or consumers are about to open their wallets.

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Many store chains that enjoyed a second straight banner year of growth through their Web sites in 2006 appear ready to hit some headwinds this year, thanks to a lack of cutting-edge Internet marketing and continued difficulties integrating store and Web businesses, not to mention a sputtering economy that's got more consumers watching their wallets.

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