Babylon fell due to an over-mighty and increasingly unaccountable State.
Rome fell due to an over-mighty and increasingly unaccountable State.
Hmm.
I’m not sure about Babylon, but the western Roman Empire stopped defending itself and left the dirty work of the military mostly to barbarian mercenaries. The Romans were no longer willing to risk their lives to defend Rome. Are we reaching that point? Why should I risk my life to defend land ruled over by a government I am coming despise more each day? Why should I risk my life to defend a land that harbors people that could care a whit about my liberty or even my right to defend myself?