Greece, Rome, British Empire and US

After 9/11 I floated this theory around about how all great civilizations must come to an end. I posited that the US might be one of them. Things don't last forever. That was actually my theory on why Cheney got us into the war. Colonize middle east and buy the U.S. another 100 years or more. Anyway, my theory was panned by the jingoistic who didn't hear me say "Do you think the British Empire knoew it was in its swan song? Rome? Why do you think we're so much better? Because we don't execute people or have slaves?. Anyway, happily, Kurt Andersen has a good piece in last week's NY Mag which touches on this very subject. He also says that one of the reasons we could be in denial about this is because we still own silly pop culture globally and that is a smokescreen of sorts. Frightening, isn't it? While China and India are moving right along, we are lulled into a false sens of security by the amount of money a photograph of Britney's bare twat fetches on the open market and the long lines for a chance to audition for American Idol.