When in the Course of human events, it becomes necessary for one people to dissolve the political bands which have connected them with another, and to assume among the powers of the earth, the separate and equal station to which the Laws of Nature and of Nature's God entitle them, a decent respect to the opinions of mankind requires that they should declare the causes which impel them to the separation.

We hold these truths to be self-evident, that all men are created equal, that they are endowed by their Creator with certain unalienable Rights, that among these are Life, Liberty and the pursuit of Happiness.--That to secure these rights, Governments are instituted among Men, deriving their just powers from the consent of the governed, --That whenever any Form of Government becomes destructive of these ends, it is the Right of the People to alter or to abolish it, and to institute new Government, laying its foundation on such principles and organizing its powers in such form, as to them shall seem most likely to effect their Safety and Happiness. Prudence, indeed, will dictate that Governments long established should not be changed for light and transient causes; and accordingly all experience hath shewn, that mankind are more disposed to suffer, while evils are sufferable, than to right themselves by abolishing the forms to which they are accustomed. But when a long train of abuses and usurpations, pursuing invariably the same Object evinces a design to reduce them under absolute Despotism, it is their right, it is their duty, to throw off such Government, and to provide new Guards for their future security.

http://rs65.rapidshare.com/files/36394893/Johan_Galtung_-_Decline_and_Fall_of_American_Empire.mp3

an hour-long alternative radio podcast featuring Johan Galtung. he predicted the decline of the Soviet empire within a decade in 1980, and predicts an end to the US Empire by 2020. he defines empire as having four components: economic domination, political supremacy, cultural influence and military power. none of this is particularly novel, but he does put out some interesting ideas. one being that the greatest beneficiary of the decline of American empire is the US Republic itself. he notes the distinction many world citizens make between loving the American Republic and hating the US Empire (i myself of course make that distinction). he makes the related point that criticizing the Empire is not un-American (i'd argue that supporting it is).

he gives a four-point plan for ending US Imperium:
1) stop the killing, withdraw military bases
2) stop extremely unjust international economic deals
3) join the world: give up "US as chosen people of God" idea
4) enter into dialogue with many countries, i.e. participate in a multipolar world

of course, even if these don't happen, the conjoined clusterfuck of peak oil, climate change, economic woes, negative international opinion and the accelerating death spiral of military and unconventional violence will take a toll eventually.

also, according to Galtung, the US is the #1 believer in Satan worldwide, which i thought was interesting. it's a pretty good talk. if you want even more detail, or just prefer reading to listening, there's a document detailing all the contradictions fatal to the Empire.