This poor nation is now going through a transitional period of republic to democracy to empire so fast that it makes the famous double play speed of Tinkers to Evers to Chance look like a movie in slow motion.

Interesting enough, though, this transition has only hit the speed button in the past 75 years or so. Up to then the transition had been almost imperceptible.  But no more. Now it is out in plain view.

It is assumed here that as an informed person you know what a republic and a democracy are, and also the difference between the two on a slide-down scale.  But the term empire, as it relates to America, may be less familiar.

Webster says this about empire: “A political unit, often comprising a number of territories or nations, ruled by a single supreme authority.” And who do you suppose that authority would be?

When anyone talks about an “American Empire”, my friend Mr. Google tells us in no uncertain terms exactly what that means: “American Empire is an informal, emotionally-freighted term used to describe the United States’ influences and trends toward political expansion beyond the bounds of North America, an extension of the American theme of “Manifest Destiny.” In other words, it matters not how many countries we invade, how many people we kill (theirs and ours), how much of our resources we expend, or how we badly overextend our military; it is America’s “destiny” to rule the world and anything short of that is unacceptable.

From that perspective, Bush’s double-play is already a reality, albeit still in uncompleted form. The question is, is going from republic to democracy to empire compatible with the values, principles, and Constitutionof this sovereign land?

We shall see.

Say “empire” and a picture of Rome comes to mind. But we are told that Rome was a republic. And it was during the reign of Caesar Augustus that Rome became an empire:  going from republic with an “elected” ruler to a monarchy with a lifetime emperor. Given that, it should not be difficult to see how the core of political power is manipulated and changed to suit the empire builder.

In the film “Gladiator”, two conversations take place that demonstrate this switch of power.  Yes, it is just a movie but the screenwriter knew his business. And his history.

Commedus, the immoral son of Caesar, who has inherited the throne, is talking with the Senators, the governing body in a republic.

SENATOR:  Rome has matters that require your attention, Sire.

COMMEDUS:  My father spent all his time at study, books, learning, and all the time the people were forgotten.

SENATOR:  But the Senate IS the people, Sire. Chosen FROM the people to speak FOR the people.

COMMEDUS:  I think I understand my own people.

SENATOR:  Then perhaps Caesar would be good enough to teach us, out of his own extensive experience. (Laughter)

COMMEDUS:  I call it love. I am their father. The people are my children, and I shall hold them to my bosom and embrace them.

* * * * *

In the next exchange, Commedus and his sister are having a private conversation about his meeting with the Senators.

COMMEDUS:  Who are they to lecture me?

SISTER:  Don’t even think it. There has always been a Senate.

COMMEDUS:  Rome has changed. It takes an emperor to rule an empire. Father warned me about the barbarians. He fought them and won, but he achieved nothing, Yet the people loved him,

SISTER:  People always love victory.

COMMEDUS:  But what do they care about Germania?

SISTER:  They care about the greatness of Rome.

COMMEDUS:  The greatness of Rome. And what is that?

SISTER:  It’s an idea, a vision.

COMMEDUS:  I will give the people a vision of Rome that they will love me for. And they’ll soon forget the sermonizing of a few dried- up old men.

* * * * *

Notice how Commedus, slyly and subtly, turns a republic into a democracy, then into an empire, and sets himself up as the emperor. Notice too the kind of delusional, egocentric mind it takes to make the “love of the people” a prime ingredient in the transaction.

The “vision” Commedus spoke of was, of course, the Coliseum and the Games, where men killed each other and died to the roar of the “majority” of the crowd.

Our founding fathers gave us a republic (rule of law). In time, we have turned our republic into a democracy (rule of man). And now we are on the brink of becoming an empire, ruled by an emperor---guess who that is.

Is republic to democracy to empire what we really want for America?  How will we explain that insidious “double play” to generations of Americans who come after us---without them thinking we had lost our way and all gone mad?

James T. Moore
http://jamestmoore.us/