America Is... [Poll]

Here's an old joke a propos of nothing: A man runs into his psychoanalyst's office screaming, "I'm a wigwam. I'm a teepee. I'm a wigwam. I'm a teepee." The doctor, though briefly taken aback, calmly tells the man, "It's okay. Take it easy. Lie down. You're just two tents."

Lately I'm feeling whipsawed kind of like the man in the joke. Seems like all I'm hearing these days is "America's a third world nation. America's an empire. America's a third world nation. America's an empire. "

Webnewspreneur, wannabedigimogul, and tireless self-promoter Arianna Huffington has a new book coming out claiming that the U.S. is becoming a third world nation because its middle class is becoming extinct: Third World America. But you wouldn't know it from looking at her vast site.

Others take the seemingly opposite view, to wit that America is an empire:

"The inordinate power of the United States disturbs people on the American left and excites people on the American right. Liberals are uncomfortable with the notion of an American empire because they are uneasy with the fact that America has so much power, especially military power. They would prefer that America simply be part of the community of nations, perhaps a first among equals but an equal nevertheless, and use its power to further human welfare. Conservatives, on the other hand, are jubilant that America is finally breaking out of multilateral strictures and is unilaterally asserting its imperial prerogatives abroad. For them, national self-interest, enforced by military supremacy, should be the guiding principle of U.S. policy."

Of course, this is nothing new.

What's a boy to think? Does it have to be either/or?

Let me know what you think. Take the poll on my sidebar. You can make multiple choices.

You have until the end of August, so vote early and often!

Remember, this is not a scientific poll; so, please, no wagering.