EMPIRES

 Empires and Lottery Emperors

There is already one empire in the world calling itself a democracy. The Britannica Dictionary defines an empire simply as: “a group of countries or regions that are controlled by one ruler or one government.” To an impartial observer, this definition seems to fit the United states of America extremely well.

Empires are usually either paranoid and defensive or proud, confident and with a sense of imagined higher purpose. Either type is diplomatically and violently aggressive. They need to expand their political and economic dominance and are willing to use any possible means to achieve this expansion just in case their enemies find them to be weak or badly governed.

Most historic empires also held cultural dominance not only over the controlled peoples and territories but also on other countries and peoples. However, the individuals leading empires and their people, start over and over, to feel or acquire too much hubris, leading to a gradual deterioration of their culture, wisdom and th eir ability to recognize and assess themselves. These situations may cause defections and the appearance of domestic ideological, financial or military opposition as well as jackals and hyenas or even vultures hoping to get a tasty bite at economic, financial, political and military fringes.

Against expectations or common belief, the American Empire may not suffer this hubris and learn to be compassionate, peaceful and non-invasive and hence survive if it can educate its people to understand themselves, their politics and the issues facing their culture and empire.