Since The Revolution Of The 18th Century,

Democracy Is Premised, In Some Measure, On Majority Rule, And Democracy Is Difficult In A Situation Of Concentrated Inequalities In Which A Large, Impoverished Majority Confronts A Small, Wealthy Oligarchy.

The Core Of The American Set Of Beliefs Has Remained Pretty Constant.

It Will Take A Long Time, And Certainly The West Will Remain The Dominant Civilization Well Into The Next Century, But The Decline Is Occurring.

The Basis Of Association And Antagonism Among Countries Has Changed Over Time.

If One Of The Drafters Of The Declaration Of Independence Came Back Today, He Would Not Be Surprised About What Americans Were Saying And Believing And Articulating In Their Public Statements. It Would All Sound Rather Familiar.