In fact, "United States" is becoming something of an oxymoron, as various threads of its very being appear to be unravelling. "Untied States" is perhaps a better option at the moment.
For those of us living elsewhere on the globe, the size of the US, and its dominance and heft, have always been flabbergasting. There is admiration and respect from allies and friends, fear and loathing from its enemies.
Throughout our lifetimes we have become used to hearing the self-aggrandising rhetoric of the US that it is the "land of the free" and the "leader of the free world". If scale of operations and population size are the only qualifications for that, then such claims are probably true.
But those patronising pronouncements have at times grated, particularly among smaller nations such as New Zealand, which has a much better track record of looking after its peoples, and respecting diversity and all our myriad differences, than the US does.
From the other side of the Pacific Ocean, we can show the US a thing or two when it comes to looking after our most vulnerable citizens — which is, after all, the sign of a true democracy and "land of the free".
It is not terribly clear which lessons, or examples of leadership, the US is currently broadcasting to the rest of the world. Unless it is perhaps salutary ones which warn us how not to do things.
When it comes to protests in the land of the free, there has always been a fanatic fringe, though to be fair that’s not just on the police side. The ease with which firearms can be obtained in the US ups the ante significantly wherever and whenever dissent ignites.
Over the years there has been plenty of police brutality against innocent Americans. It is the same for protests — seemingly ever-present at demonstrations in the US are officers of a thuggish nature, who delight in exceeding their authority and in bullying and assaulting those who get in their way, even if they are on the margins or merely passing by.
Police are being called in to either stop rallies becoming riots or to remove students who have pitched tents on campus and are determined to stay until universities stop investing in Israeli companies which profit from the war in Gaza or the US discontinues sending weapons and funding to Israel.
As always, innocent people are getting caught up in the melee. Academics and students who are not involved are being assaulted and arrested by hasty and highly strung officers.
And not all protesters are students with strong moral principles, with agitators also taking the opportunity to join in.
Protests at universities are always fraught. It is where bright, concerned and highly educated minds intersect with the notion of academic freedom and the ability to say and discuss anything without fear or prejudice.
Unfortunately, that noble philosophy of what makes a university is increasingly threatened on both sides — by what some would call "woke" pressure to hold the "right" opinion and not say anything which may offend someone, and by the nasty, harder edge to US politics which has crept in over the past couple of decades.
Hovering over the US like the spectre at the feast is former president Donald Trump, busy harrumphing and wailing his way through his hush-money trial in New York. News came this week that American historian Allan Lichtman, who has correctly predicted the winner of every presidential election since 1984, except 2000, has predicted that incumbent Joe Biden is likely to beat Mr Trump later this year.
Despite that, Trumpism, and the celebration of populist leaders who can spout any old rubbish by supporters who do not care for the truth or reasoned intellectual debate, are crippling the US’ reputation.
They point the way to a much darker future, one which is definitely more "untied" than united.
