IMHO we lost our Republic when we decided on having an empire.
As with Rome, a Republican form of government works well for a somewhat homogeneous population in a mostly contiguous area, but once you start trying to control overseas areas and very different peoples, many of whom might not really be thrilled about being controlled from afar, a form of government effectively dependent upon almost everyone being in at least rough agreement as to principles, priorities and culture ceases to work.
Some say it was the only option to fight the USSR, but really, once we took the Philippines and asserted our hegemony over South America we could no longer really be a country of English Speaking ‘yeoman farmers’ wherein everyone had ‘skin in the game’.
800 military bases in 80 countries is an empire, for good or ill.
We never had an empire. The Philippines were a colony / client state for about 47 years. The Philippines were never granted full citizenship.
800 military bases in 80 countries is an empire, for good or ill.
Having military outposts does not an empire make.
The U.S. is not an empire - we are a hyperpower (in decline). Our status as a nation-state is likewise eroding.
Regards,