The American Experiment depended on several key pillars to enable it to have any chance of long term success: a well informed and engaged populace, some semblance of moral standards, an honest press, protected rights and liberties, an equitable legal system, and accountability in society.
Those pillars have all eroded away, undermining the Great American Experiment in self-governance.
We are becoming more like Rome everyday.
That is an insult to ancient Romans, they can't defend themselves.