Rome grew from a small agricultural settlement on Italian hills to a world superpower through expansion, military conquest, economic dominance and political assimilation.  It lasted for over 1200 years and evolved from a city-state kingdom, to a democratic republic, to an autocratic empire. Rome's culture and self identity was molded and inspired by the older culture of Ancient Greece.

America has grown from small agricultural settlements along the North American eastern seaboard to a world superpower through expansion, military conquest, economic dominance and political assimilation.  It has lasted 400 years since the Virginia and Massachusetts colonies and has evolved into a vast continent-stretching republic.  America's culture and self identity has been molded and inspired by the older culture of Great Britain.

Ever since George W. Bush stole the 2000 election the words ‘tyrant’ and ‘dictator’ have been used to describe him (I image that these terms have been used to describe all our Presidents, by someone or another). As his ‘reign’ has progressed these terms of endearment seem increasingly applicable, but just exactly how amazingly accurate these terms are in describing George Bush is best seen when we examine the roots of these words. Analyzing the roots is more than just a fruitless mental game, but rather they provide us with an insight into ourselves and the precarious state in which our democracy exists. In the words of Karl Marx, "History repeats itself, first as a tragedy, second as a farce."