How can anyone see this as anything except pathetic? I'm having trouble imagining that world-view right now.

We might all be vassals here.  Dropped another big chunk of dough today, who knows, we may not be able to afford an empire.  What was it Churchill said, something about, not becoming Prime Minister to preside over the end of the British Empire.  There is quite a bit of dissatisfaction in this country about the failure to institute real change.  Question I have is whether we have a government that can manage change or whether the two party federal constituional system we have is so archaic that it just flat can't respond.  I don't know the answer for sure, but its very worrisome.

"I said, 'Wait a minute, Chester, You know I'm a peaceful man...'" Robbie Robertson