[redgolum]

When Rome decided to feed its people for free, the mob began to dictate to Rome what to do. Many of the wars were fought to bring in or protect those on the dole.

In the end, when the game fell apart, they all died. The remnant welcomed the illegal immigrants (germans) who were doing most of the work anyway, as their new rulers.

[jboot]

Good analogy. The only differences are that all Roman citizens benefited from the dole, and the substance of the dole was extracted from vassals in North Africa.

in the USA, half of us work while the other half subsist on entitlements. The entitlements are paid for by borrowing money from foreign creditors who unlike the descendants of Carthage have the power-and eventually the obligation-to withhold funds and demand payment.