> these stories are a good reminder of the lesson of “Look on my works, ye mighty, and despair.” <
You make an excellent point.
The Romans thought their empire was eternal.
So there was no need any corrective action.
Same applies to the British empire.
And now to the American empire?
The Roman and British empires eroded and declined due to their elites embracing hedonistic decadent values and the irreplacable genetic loss of their best due to constant wars. All of which led to a loss of vibrancy. Sadly a clear, large minority in America is on the same downside. It will be a hard fight for decent, hard working patriotic Americans to maintain power and avoid the fate of Rome and Britain.