With the American Empire, its a question of will. For whatever reason, too many people seem to be ashamed of our own culture and history. I don’t think this constitutes a majority yet, but it certainly does include most people who are “influencers”. That does not bode well for the future. The fact that we elected a full-fledged security risk as POTUS is evidence of our stupidity.
I also think our material prosperity and technological prowess are part of the problem. They have served to insulate people from reality and enabled them to take off on these foolish flights-of-fancy. These attitudes would never have been tolerated pre-1960.
I suspect the fall of Rome was incomprehensible to most Romans too—until the Barbarians were at the gates.
“until the Barbarians were at the gates.” Knock, knock, knock.