That’s generally how the big powers from the past died: they get hollowed out from the inside by the elite our of greed. Then there is one or more external shock (pandemics, climate, war, disasters, resource depletion or agriculture problems are a few classics) that it can’t handle anymore and things collapse. It looks things are following that well-worn path. China is even counting on this and aims to be the next big power.
That’s generally how the big powers from the past died: they get hollowed out from the inside by the elite our of greed. Then there is one or more external shock (pandemics, climate, war, disasters, resource depletion or agriculture problems are a few classics) that it can’t handle anymore and things collapse. It looks things are following that well-worn path. China is even counting on this and aims to be the next big power.
Yup, when you slowly hollow out the pyramid until there’s nothing supporting the top, the pyramid collapses
There was never a good time to support the top of the USA.