Very good series of video's ( although it looks like its from the 60s:)

Conversations host Harry Kreisler welcomes Chalmers Johnson for a discussion of his new book, Nemesis. In the interview, Johnson, an Emeritus Professor of the University of California, analyzes the impact of the American empire on democracy at home. Comparing the United States to Rome and Great Britain, he argues that a combination of military Keynesianism, the Bush administration's attempt to implement a unitary presidency, and the failed checks on executive ambition point to political and economic bankruptcy.


http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Avyg65XkqMM
(part 1 of 6, the rest in 'related'). If you are only going to watch one, try part 2.

Excellent piece, it does sound logical that an empire cannot also be a democracy, and current events show how there's a struggle for that national identity at this moment. It doesn't help, though, that the public lacks much knowledge about the world abroad and is thus susceptible to manipulation and group think so much.