is America the new Rman Empire?
 

Yes.

The article is a turd.

(I win this debate, by posting the most eloquent opinion about it so far.)

Wrong, UT. Nothing can top the original post.

The stylishly casual title, misspelling left intact, as to fully communicate the sense of glib superiority Phil has coursing through his veins as he reaches towards the keyboard and slams home his coup de grâce: a bone-crushing <Ctrl+V> combination! >>>>>>> The crowd goes wild!

Oh, darn. I thought America was finally making strides in the quest to forcibly provide everyone with database recovery management solutions. RMAN

Toga! Toga! Toga!

I didn't actually read the article :P I have however, on numerous occassions suggested that America is the new Rome. Inasmuch as it represents a cultural centre for much of the world, is looked to for security, is the most powerful nation and greatly envied. It is the new great Empire.

We are not the New Rome. We are Better than Rome.

We are Americans.

We have the best possible bread, and most amazing circuses.

We're different from Rome, because we're gonna stay on top of the world forever!

But it must be said that the best possible bread is usually something of Italian origin, and the most amazing circuses are Quebec's Cirque du Soleil.

America will eventually fall to the status of Britian or France today.

As wolf says, better. We grow better weeds in our fields (Kentucky's #1 cash crop is...). We have better pasta. Our sauce comes from Jersey tomatoes that Rome never had. Our leaders even spell out how we have a better potatoe. We grow bread that tastes so much better ... contains 50% sugar. We don't need roads that lead to Rome. Tainted money gets to Washington electronically. We never needed Brutus. As Jay Leno so appreciated, we have Monica. And what good empire has a coliseum only in its capital? Our gladiators fight every Sunday in cities all over the Empire; returning every week to confront attacking Lions, Eagles, and Seahawks. When America is dumb, it does not just make useless war with the Huns. It finds a whole axis of evil. Of course Romans also denied it. Rome was overrun by massive illegal immigration and invasions from the Gauls. Meanwhile, when we lose those wars, we don't lose whole legions. We just end up with thousands of disabled. That too is better.

In the empire, when someone learned of a good idea, he would smack himself in the head and say, “Why do I not think of that”. In America, we sit in a boat in the Mississippi River and let the fish do the smacking. During the Roman empire, one could be attacked by Wolves. Today, we only worry about Wolfovitz.

Of course, in Rome, spies were everywhere. America has simply taken it to new heights and extremes - satellites and routine wiretapping without judicial review. But like in Rome, eventually, the government cannot trust the people. New patriot acts make America safer. Rome never had such powers.

In Rome, if you were suspected, then the emperor would have you smitten. Today we have all those electronics devices so that courts can kill with certainty. We kill off just as many innocent people. But that’s OK. It’s done legally with a death penalty.

Every new empire eventually must invent its own religion. Rome created Christianity. America has Intelligent Design, Church of the Latter Day Saints, and Kwanza complete with disciples and philosophers such as Jimmy Swagert, Rush Limbaugh, and Pat Robertson.

Eventually the Empire broke up into Red states (Rome) and Blue states (Constantinople).

Oh yes. And we have Santa Claus. Ceasar did not.

And whom, may I ask, do you think will be the "New Lead Nation?"

That depends on when we do fall to that status.

If we fall in the next 50 years (very unlikely but it is a possiblity) then China may take over if they can pull themselves together or the EU might be able to take charge. Or both. Realistically, the US and one or both of those two countries would share superpower status for a good amount of time before one breaks down.

If happens after 2050 then I have no idea because countries change power very quickly. Sooner or later America will fall to the status of Britian or France, it probably won't happen in the next century but it will happen eventually.

Round of applause TW, I like.