by Eric Zuesse, The Duran:

Right now, the center of the American empire — the U.S. Government itself — is in the early stages of shedding some of its colonies, especially in Europe (such as by demanding them not to consume the most inexpensive fuels that were available to them, which came from Russia — and which had fueled European industries and kept EU countries economically competitive with other nations), and is just now starting to shed even its own public, by slashing the federal programs (such as Social Security, Medicare, Medicaid, and services to the poor) that have the highest public support. This self-cannibalization is normal for an empire in decline, because its billionaires (its richest, the country’s aristocracy — the individuals who collectively control the Government), have been the beneficiaries of empire, and can no longer keep up the lifestyles to which they are accustomed, unless they extract it increasingly from their colonies and from their own public.