Originally Posted by
Caprisun
America classified as an empire is a stretch. A big stretch, at least in the classical sense. If anything it is a new kind of empire, one that doesn't foster fear, discontent, and oppression. You are taking most of your own points out of context, such as predominance of English language, American currency, disproportional resource consumption etc. While they may be true, the reasons for this are debatable. We do not conquer nations and force our language or currency upon them. The only countries that speak English as their first language are the countries that were once colonized by England. Other countries simply learn English as a second language because the world is dominated by English speaking countries, learning English puts them at an advantage business wise. English is the official language of aviation because America did and still is pinoeering the aviation industry. Our culture is popular in other countries, only because it's awesome. Asian countries like our movies and music because they kick the shit out of the local stuff, why do you think piracy is so popular over there? All of those Asian countries still have their own identity, they adopt certain western traits by choice. They like our currency because it is more valuable than theirs. They speak our language because it is advantageous to them. They adopt aspects of western culture because they like it. We aren't forcing it on anyone.
As for your description of point number 7, it is true that CEO's of large companies hold power. But they are all separate entities. They have separate personalities, separate goals, separate wants. They do not work together as a single dictating entity. And as proven by the events of the past two years, the government still reigns supreme.
When you compare America with historical empires, it may have certain traits in common, but it contrasts more than it compares. We have no single emperor, we do not conquer all of the lands around us (Canada and Mexico both still exist,) we do not destroy the cultures of our victims, we do not discourage opposition to our government, we do not threaten violence to those who speak out against the government, the list goes on.
em⋅pire /ˈɛmpaɪər; for 8–10 also ɒmˈpɪər/ Show Spelled Pronunciation [em-pahyuhr; for 8–10 also om-peer] Show IPA
–noun 1. a group of nations or peoples ruled over by an emperor, empress, or other powerful sovereign or government: usually a territory of greater extent than a kingdom, as the former British Empire, French Empire, Russian Empire, Byzantine Empire, or Roman Empire.
2. a government under an emperor or empress.
3. (often initial capital letter) the historical period during which a nation is under such a government: a history of the second French empire.
4. supreme power in governing; imperial power; sovereignty: Austria's failure of empire in central Europe.
5. supreme control; absolute sway: passion's empire over the mind.
The difference between us and the Japanese Empire is the rape of Nanking. The difference between us and the Nazi Empire is the Holocaust. The difference between us and all other empires is that the only country that we technically have sovereign power over is ourselves. We are powerful, we could probably take over many nations, but we tend to let them govern themselves. The only meddling I see us doing is when something may threaten our way of life.