I would observe, the growth of the Roman empire ceased around 50AD but it was not until 1461 that the last of its ‘colonies’ was lost.

Now the ‘collapse’ of the British empire commenced when it lost its American colonies (1775-83) about 120 years before it stopped colonizing new territories like Rhodesia in 1894 or 145 years before it took over colonies forfeited by Germany following WWI

The socialist/communist empire collapsed after a mere 70 years, defeated by the superior strategies and political systems of the Americans and their Western Allies.

Somehow, I don’t think USA is about to implode and relinquish its place in the world anytime soon.

(regardless how ‘appealing’ that might seem to some small minds)

I might even be tempted to put money on it

Polycarp: "Ive heard it said that Bush will call in Marshall law b4 the next election."

Bugsy: "Who or what is Marshall law?"

I think it's one of Polly's typos. He meant Martian Law.

Col: "Somehow, I don’t think USA is about to implode and relinquish its place in the world anytime soon."

I agree, thanks to the mighty taxpayers of the USA, the Wall Street Banks will continue in the style to which they feel entitled.

BTW, Health Care for children was, at $9 billion, considered too expensive and rejected by the Bush Administration. As it should! Where would we be without all those high-flying CEO's? A more equitable world? Horrible thought.

It is also a problem for us.It is making the world more unstable.Can we rely on the US if China or Russia become aggressive in our region?Iran,North Korea and Russia are already more emboldened.

THe US could pick another fight just as a distraction from home problems.It will also be tempted to assert it's authority just to silence it's enemies.Iraq was unnecessary since Saddham was a counter balance to Iran.They were divided.The US united them.Not very smart.For all our sakes,the US needs to do some soul searching and quickly get it's act together.

The day of the first presidential debate.We need to pause over the increasing lack of discernment among the American people;the dumbing-down of our nation.With each day we see more and more stupidity being sold to the American people,without so much as a blink from the stupefied nation.Where to start America,to examine the lunacy our country has become?The response from the GOP?A 700 billion dollar bailout plan to save the very companies that acted so unscrupulously to begin with.Why is it,no one is asking why this plan was not designed years ago,before the collapse and no one tried to prevent it? While we're on the subject,why hasn’t anyone seriously questioned, where the 700 billion dollar figure came from, to begin with? Oh that’s right,we're supposed to be stupid sheep;just give the 700 billion and ask no questions.To put a rather pedantic plan into effect,let's start with all the corrupt CEO's that made millions, with greed and deceit,taking thousands of innocent victims down, so they could profit.The United States should begin seizing and freezing their savings and bank accounts.Next,let's take all the billionaires in America and have them donate a billion or so.If Warren Buffet can donate his companies to charity,let him donate,to the United States's deficit.Then Oprah,Bill Gates and all the other billionaires, have them "donate' a billion or so.
Sound immature and irrational? Not any more than what our government has done to us already!
I don’t want to have a beer with my president.I want him solving the problems that face this country and the world.I would prefer he be sober when he is trying to figure it all out(not a drunk like Bush). I don't want my president to be just like me,I want him to be better than me;preferably a lot better and a lot smarter.We've had eight years of a national embarrassment.A president who couldn’t put together a coherent sentence with two hands,a thesaurus and a flashlight.I'm relatively certain,if you asked Bush,he'd say a thesaurus was a giant reptile that lived millions of years ago. Any comments?