The American Principate

[rambone]

The "Principate" (27 BC – 284 AD) is the first period of the Roman Empire. After Julius Caesar established (and Octavian cemented into place) the dictatorship that Rome would be known as for the next four centuries, the Romans still maintained the trappings and appearances of a Republic. The Principate is characterized by a concerted effort on the part of the Emperors to preserve the illusion of the formal continuance of the Roman Republic. Most of the citizens of Rome and, perhaps, even most of their Senators had no idea that they were living in a dictatorship. History gives us a bit more perspective.

Principate - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

 

[CarmelHP]

I fear the comparison is apt.

 

[Kirk Freeman]

http://www.amazon.com/Are-We-Rome-Empire-America/dp/0547052103

 

[steveh_131]

-insert joke about tinfoil hats-

 

[buckstopshere]

Looks like you've posted the blue print.

 

[ghunter]

Yep. The D's want to run there, and the R's want to walk there.