Reply #46: Not necessarily. All of the previous empires were also hated by

[Cyrano]

the world, and although they no longer are in control, many have become admired democracies. Ancient Rome and Greece are no longer "hated empires" and even Germany has managed, to a tremendous degree, to put the barbarism of the Nazi era behind them.

Over the past couple of decades, we have displayed an arrogance and indifference to the world that has, for all practical purposes, been the equivalent of saying, "You don't like what we're doing? Go fuck yourself."

If somehow (assuming we can ever again get a fair election in this country) we can elect more enlightened executive and legislative branches of government, we may regain some iota of credibility.

To be blunt about this, as long as the current incarnation of the Republican party controls the levers of power, we are certainly on a downhill slope toward utter destruction.