I keep reflecting on the decline and fall of the Roman Empire and wondering if we are seeing a repeat. Am I right?

Arguably so. The rise of a nation to the peak of global leadership and power, followed by hubris, complacency, and a series of incompetent self-serving rulers (referring more to Congress here than any President) trying to govern a people who are more concerned about being entertained than educated (see Jevenal's commentary on panem et circenses), happier being safe than free, and content to be led by the nose like a castrated bull than to take responsibility for their own lives. The decline of the US is only waiting for its version of the barbarian invasion to end its reign.

An empire is held together by force. This is why most empires in the world have failed. The US is not an empire in the sense that every state in the union WANTS to be part of the US. The Roman empire had many people from different cultures speaking different languages and having many regions that did not identify as Roman, and did not want to be Roman. In the US we are all Americans and want to remain being Americans. This is not an empire just a really big powerful civilization. If the US ever started acting like a true empire a lot of people would die and there would be much suffering in the world. I doubt there has ever been a civilization as powerful as the US, yet so benevolent.

There's a closer parallel with the decline and fall of the Weirmar government of Germany.

No. The Roman Empire is still dead.

But history does assure us that all empires do decline and fall.

Read victor Davis hanson, he also says he sees parallels between decline of the west and the fall of rome.

Empires and civilisations have come and gone throughout history. Most have been less civilised and less unified than some historians would have you believe.

And who is the "we" you are asking about?

No, there aren't any empires in today's world.

I think you're right.

yez

no