Summary: Britain began its slow descent into oblivion in the late 19thcentury. Britain believed in the innate goodness of man which was its undoing. We examine the stages and mistakes culminating in the ultimate disappearance of the empire in 20 years from 1947 to 1967. Remarkable similarities accompany America’s own decline although, of course, it has never had an empire. Stock market comment du jour. Wal-Mart is feeling the pinch of reduced spending as are cut-price stores like Family Dollar and 99-cent Stores. How can they still talk up a ‘recovery’ with a straight face? More on the ‘real’ unemployment figures. The fate of incomes in this depression. The meaning of retirement in America. More and more people will be depending on social security to fund it
