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Aired on June 4, 2007 This week, I'm predicting a global case of deja-vu. Some of the world's most powerful leaders will recommit to what they recommitted to last year. And a pack of wealthy rock-stars will restage a concert they re-staged last year. And the United States will re-water down whatever watery documents are presented for signing at the end. Ahh...the G8. It's like an episode from Entertainment Tonight ---- they always over-sell and under-deliver. This year, I'm not the only one with a case of déjà vu and there are more and more questions being raised about the relevance of the G8, in a world of one super-power and lots of super-powers to be. So let's take a quick look at who's in and who's out. In theory, the G8 is a forum for the world's most powerful industrialized democracies. Now, right off the bat, I haven't heard anyone accuse Russia of being a democracy lately. And its economy isn't even in the top 10. So what's the rationale behind excluding the world's fourth largest economy, China? They're just as undemocratic, they treat their protesters just as badly...Actually maybe that's not a good standard to use these days. Speaking of Canada....I'm not sure why we're keeping a seat at the table. According to the World Bank, Spain has overtaken us for the number 8 spot. And what about India. Economy at number 10. Democracy for, well, 50 years. Why on earth isn't India in the club. I guess it's just too much hassle to change the letter-head all the time. Listen, the truth is, the G8 just can't keep up with the rest of the world. The only time the club has ever changed its members' list, was when Russia joined.That was in the nineties. In those heady days of walls falling, and freedom rising, and the whole world was going to embrace American style capitalism and democracy. Well we all know what's happened since. Disastrous shock therapy in Russia created the oligarchs --- and paved the way for Putin. In the former Soviet Union, but also in Latin America and the Middle East, America has fewer and fewer friends. And in China and India, bigger and bigger rivals. The idea of the G8, the most powerful democracies in the world, led by a single super power --- capable of getting together once a year and shaping the course of history ----- it's all so 1989.