There never was an American Empire. We hold Guam, the Virgin Islands, and a handful of Pacific atolls, but we never had an empire of colonies spanning the globe. You seem to have confused the US with Europe. I guess you can be forgiven for that because you're not from here, after all.

Besides, if you've read any US history, you know this has always been an isolationist nation that eschewed foreign entanglements. We stirred ourselves to participate in WWI, but after it was over we went back to our isolationist ways, even refusing to join the League of Nations. If Japan hadn't bombed Hawaii, we might never have joined WWII.

It's only since WWII that the US became both the police officer for the world and its no-questions-asked bank of low interest, no interest, non-repayable "loans", and indirect subsidies by taking on the expense of the world's defense. Both of these have contributed greatly to the US current economic decline (just ask a family in, for example, Southern Illinois -- not Seattle which is no longer the real America -- how well things are going financially for them).

By taking on the defense of Europe and the Far East, the US enabled those countries to develop their economies and industries, which they then used against us -- but only in the friendliest of ways, of course.That's why America's streets are filled with European, Japanese, and Korean autos. They essentially almost killed off the US auto industry, which is actually a pitiful remnant of what it once was. That's why Detroit is what it is today, Dude.

Correction: I left Puerto Rico out of the list of US territories. I keep thinking of it as another state, something my Puerto Rican friends chide me for.

@1 & 2,
You have a point. I've contended with my friend, Charles on this topic before. I agree. I don't believe America was ever an "empire". And that ostensible "decline" has nothing to do with a "pee tape" or the "Trump baby balloon". To be sure, some of America was obtained by conquest. Texas comes to mind. Some of it by purchase, Louisiana, Alaska and the Gadsen (a portion of SW Arizona I think?). And no doubt, some of it from rebellion from ....Great Britain!

But it, America wasn't imperial like France or Britain. Yes, we've spread our products and our "culture" (baseball is hugely popular in Japan for example) worldwide since WWII. But I wouldn't consider that imperial.

America occupied the fortune of other lands with dollar primacy. It is--soon to be was--an empire of finance . . . a fiction, in other words, requiring the complicity of the conquered. Excellent commentary, Charles.

This picture of an overhead baby Trump blimp reminds me of the pig flying over industrial England on Pink Floyd's Animals album cover. How fitting.

Jumpin' jiminy, #1,2 & 3- don't American schools teach any history anymore? Please explain the Mexican-American War, the Spanish-American War, the Trail of Tears, countless US "interventions" into Central America & the Caribbean...oh Christ, forget it... you guys are hopeless.
You really believe US largesse is the cause of current US economic decline? What? That is so stupid it is not even wrong. No wonder Trump got elected, Americans apparently do have shit for brains.
Yes we had the functional equivalent of an "empire". We did force trade on our terms and stifled nationalist movements all over the world. Get a clue gentlemen, educate yourselves.

At 6, Thank you. I was gobsmacked. We also completely participated in the century of humiliation in China that led to the PRC, if not as heinously as Britain. And modern Empire comes in a different form. When you can just print the de facto global currency at will, you hold a lot of the cards. But that is what Trump is risking with his childish games - a global economic order based on USD.

so yeah, buckle up.

American hegemony is not a result of imperialistic tendencies, but rather the simple fact that the post WWII order required it.

No other nation is willing or able to be the world's bank. No other nation is willing or able to protect all the world's shipping lanes. No other nation is willing or able to protect the sovereignty of dozens of other nations at the drop of a hat.

America never wanted to be the world's daddy. But no one else is strong enough.

Let's see...We over through the government of Iran (1953) for their oil, 5 million died under our installed puppet leader, we over through Puerto Rico where we just let 4600 (and counting die) We over through Iraq (2003) to get rid of the leader we installed there and carve up their oil riches for the energy parasites, Afghanistan the same year for natural gas, Vietnam (late 50's) the Chilean Government (1973), slaughtered the Native Americans, all for wealth and the rich. An Empire for sure, on the down hill slide? No doubt.

@6, 7 & 9,
First of all, a sound bit of advice to all of you. It is a bad idea to condescend or patronize your civil foe in a debate on a relatively benign topic, whether America is an "empire" or not. You'll not learn anything and you will look awful.

For the record, America is a republic (vs. a monarchy like Britain) and has been since its inception.

@6 Reread my post. I wrote "To be sure, some of America was obtained by conquest. Texas comes to mind." Texas is a spoil of the Mexican War. And yes, I'm well aware of the wars against the Native American. Most definitely not defensible but definitively another conquest. While it is history and impossible to overturn or forget, I believe we as a country, have made some amends regarding that misfortune. Still, most of America's territorial domain was indeed, acquired by "purchase". Buying territory isn't imperialism. You conveniently change the definition of "empire". Again, America is a republic not a kingdom.

@7 Again, you conveniently change the definition of "empire". America has never had any territory or territorial ambitions in China. A few countries did exploit Imperial China (an empire) in the mid-19th century. The Opium Wars come to mind but they were fought by Britain & France (not the USA that I know of) and the spoil was merely to open China's ports.

Finally @9, the proper verb is "overthrew" not "over through". You are ranting. I have no doubt there have been machinations on the part of our CIA among others to "overthrow" sovereign governments (Arbenz in Guatemala and Allende in Chile come to mind) in the Western Hemisphere. They were part of the Cold War narrative and exploited by all sides. But at the end of the day, the USA did not acquire territory. While those actions were regrettable, I contend they weren't "imperial".

While America is on the decline economically, it is largely because we have lost our manufacturing base since the 1970s (China is now the producer of the world). America has never been nor will ever be an empire.

@8 Theodore,
Excellent observation.

What goes Up must come Down: Why do you think they're blowing trillions per year on the eSSpi0nage, aSSaSSinations & marKKKeting/badvertiSSements? 21 trillion Feudal Reserve Notes CONveniently 'missing'? ( while the ass media ignores that yuge story day after fucking day . . . . --- projedtcensored.org & whereisthemoney.org & unpo.org ). Pfft !!

What, then, shall we call nations and empires defeated by the US in combat, now featuring American bases on their soil?

Japan, Germany, Italy, Turkey? What are they? Why is there an American flag so near the Brandenburg gate?

What of installations in South Korea and in the Middle East?

What are those?

NATO?

What is a NATO?

In the former communist bloc?

What about American assets there?

Spain?

Piggybacking some of the most enjoyable ladies on the planet, the Brits - from Edinburgh to Cape Town and back again - ala Taiwan and so many others?

Man. So woke.

@10 - if you're basing your argument purely on semantics, thats just sad. Yes, we are all very aware that it's a Republic, but if you want to be that strict in your definition then you're calling Reagan a liar whenever he referred to America as a democracy. Is that your intent?

@8 - Oh teddy, that's some kinda bullshit about not wanting to be the world's daddy, or we never would've pushed the League of Nations after the first world war.

You ascribe to altruism what everyone with a brain understands was a lopsided-in-our-favor business opportunity. We then proceeded to use that influence at every step we could to increase our own power, much like how the rich today work to get richer and more powerful at the expense of everyone else.

NOT an Empire? There's a train running thru America CALLED 'The Empire Builder.'

Plus, why are the children* in America exempt from good, honest Hard Work?
THAT is what's making America SOFT. They're nearly all Moochers. I do hope and Pray the Republicans will eliminate this Tragedy of the Commons.**

We'll never control the World at this pace.

those born without gilded bootstraps
*stupid, over-Burdensome Jobs-killing Regulations

This is a Test:

**okay. I think I have these * down (when they're on the far Left).

*this one's gonna disappear after 'Submit.'

**if'n you wanna show one, you gotta put in two.

Your Welcome.

Nope. That ain't it.*

*wtf

@14: Do you have anything of substance to say, or just more extremely vague and meaningless buzzwords?

Stop being such a coward and make an argument for once.

Also, all the great characters in Mass Effect, and you choose the most boring, generic lameass in the whole game?

@18 - You dont like Joker? Shit, his character definitely did something right then - just one more reason to love him!

Thanks teddy, you made my day!