The world may view the US as egocentric, and maybe we are. But that's not the issue here. Let's take a few steps back, maybe a couple of light years worth, then the Earth is looking pretty egocentric in relation to our solar system. We, as Earth, seem to think that aliens have been here and gone. This article does a pretty good job at debunking the possibility of an ET's visit. Everyone, scientists included, seem to think that there is advanced life out there. How do we know, if there is other life, it isn't way behind us in advancement? Or, that they were advanced, destroyed themselves, and are starting the process all over?