Is is fair to Compare Ancient Rome to present day America?

There are many books on the subject, such as: Morris Berman (Dark Ages America) Cullen Murphy(Are We Rome) among many others. My real question is: In saying America is a present day empire, due to forcing it's way of living on other countries and cultures, and mabey the rise of inflation etc. Is is fair to compare an ancient society with one of the present day? Andy why? Your thoughts please?