But the problem is that despite its protestations of cunning competence, the government's aims today are the same as they were in 2006.

CENTERFORSECURITYPOLICY: Patriots and false patriots

Exhausted after cycling 1, 259 miles in 83 hours as part of an endurance challenge called the Race Across America, he becomes convinced that the motorhome carrying his support team is actually an alien spacecraft, and that his team's pleas for him to come inside and get some rest are merely a cunning pretext to get him to co-operate with a spot of alien probing.

ECONOMIST: A medley of aliens and conspiracy theories

In addition, the American culture that they package seems to have a universal appeal that may have something to do with America's melting pot or simply with Hollywood's commercial cunning.

ECONOMIST: A world view | The