No, the US imposes its will on the rest of us by having an awesome arsenal and an eagerness to use it.

The carrot and the stick are both handy. Soft power can make the difference between grumbling and active rebellion.

Yes and we are voluntarily throwing away our soft power.

You forgot freedom and dignity. There is one source for that in the world, the US.

You can flail all day but you won't be able to point to another power that preserves that chance for everyone.

That's impressively ahistorical. How many times have they overthrown a democracy in favour of a US-aligned dictatorship, now?

Iran was a functioning, secularizing democracy until the CIA got involved.

I live somewhere that exemplifies "another power that preserves that chance for everyone".

Streets around here are paved with small brass plaques to remind people of what happens if you fail to preserve that for everyone.