By Jessi Tabalba

At first glance, the differences between the U.S and the E.U are high-school textbook clear: "United in Diversity" vs. "In God We Trust." The European Union, a twentieth-century congress of ancient states, most of whom are former enemies, and the United States of America, the enfant terrible of Western history since its inception, couldn't seem more different. Both, however, are powerhouses on the shrinking global stage: economic, cultural and political rivals.

The Declaration of Independence, signed on July 4^th, 1776 as the founding document of the United States of America, begins with the bold statement that "all men are created equal" and in this equality share the right to "Life, Liberty and the Pursuit of Happiness." The genesis of the European Union was no less idealistic: in the decade after W.W.II, the European Coal and Steel Community aimed to prevent a third world war by pooling the resources most necessary for warfare.
        

Only relatively recently have either the U.S or E.U emerged as superpowers. The U.S continued its adherence to the 1823 Monroe doctrine of isolationist foreign policy until W.W.II, and only since the end of the Cold War has a united Europe seemed possible, and not an entirely absurd or fanciful idea. Culturally, Europe has the advantage of being what the Ancient Greeks called the metropolis: the mother-city of most of the New World.

Europe, to quote comedian Eddie Izzard, "is where the history comes from," though one could argue that some of the greatest ideas in twentieth century art, music and literature came from America (rock n' roll, Pop art, the Beats). Politically, it's best to remember that the EU is not one country. Brussels often defers major policy decisions to individual countries, most recently the choice to diplomatically recognize Kosovo as an independent state. Thus the US, being one country with almost unrivalled military and economic power, has more freedom to carry out its plans.
        

The cultural and political contest between the EU and US might come down to one thing: money, or currency, to be more exact. The once mighty Greenback, which was, three years ago, almost one-to-one with the Euro, is continuing its plunge against most other currencies, much to the delight of longtime American expats (who now find a visit home more affordable), and much to the chagrin of those dependent on the stability of the dollar. BRAZILLIAN?? Supermodel Gisele Bundchen is now notorious for supposedly refusing payment in USD. Former Federal Reserve Chairman Alan Greenspan stated in September 2007 that the Euro could conceivably replace the American dollar as the world's primary reserve currency. That being said, whether the era of briefcases filled with Andrew Jacksons changing hands in dark alleys, only time, and history, will tell. 

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