It's too myopic to consider the US as not an imperial power simply because we have the power to vote, and checks and balances for that matter. For imperialism to be something as an accurate definition, you have to look at the nation's foreign policies. In that context, we are very imperial. In fact we are the largest and strongest empire in world history. We are the single superpower in the world, and the neo-conservatives are hell-bent on asserting US military superiority in the world. We have over 700 military bases in over 130 different countries, on all continents (except Antarctica), encompassing the entire globe. We are on a perpetual military footing, always at war. We use our military and other violent means to spread our own ideology across the globe left and right. Thus, it is very simple, that we are an Empire. I personally would say we practice "neo-imperialism" (more corporate than anything), but many say we are straight imperialist. There have been Empires in the past that weren't focused on totalitarian rule domestically. The definition presented in the above article is a false one.

"May our growing hegemony live on"?? You're just sick. First you deny the US an imperial power, then you accept and try to justify it, then you wish the 'thousand year reich' to live on.