A lot of history buffs: "The US is literally like the Fall-era Western Roman Empire."
Same people, not a shred of irony: "Remember to vote!"
Conversation
The central conceit of the post-republic WRE was the appearance of democracy (well, oligarchy) while it functioned as a dictatorship in practice.
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If you're going to make this analogy, go all the way. US politics do not deserve the benefit of the doubt on this point.