Allow us to introduce ourselves!
It's actually quite remarkable how massively the U.K fell... faster than free-fall..
Anericas not falling at quite the same speed but it'll end in the same destination.
Its the cycle of decadence. Once a country becomes prosperous its people become decadent and corruption sets in. Then other countries come in and take them over.
SO BASICALLY THE GOAL OF A NATION IS TO GET SO RICH AND POWERFUL; THAT IT CAN HIRE LOTS OF PEOPLE TO GRIND ITS ECONOMY TO A STANDSTILL, OVER-TAX ITS PEOPLE AND OVER-REGULATE ITS COMPANIES UNTIL IT LOSES ALL ITS WEALTH AND POWER