Empires nearly always fall from within. Sometimes they are brought down by force, the government overthrown. But quite often they are left to crumble by those within. When people begin to feel that they no longer matter. When their needs are not being met. When they feel oppressed and neglected and their voices are no longer being payed attention to, they stop caring about the institutions of which they are apart.  They loose hope for anything better. This is true regardless of the type of government or institution. The political philosophy or economic model.

They may not always rise up in revolt but they will cease to support the institution. Be it public or private.  They begin to engage in Malicious Obedience.  Where they follow directives to the letter even though they know it will end in disaster. They stop reporting errors. Fixing even the small the problems or reporting them to those higher up. They essentially allow the system to fail without lifting a finger to prevent it. Because the system no longer cares whither they succeed or not.  Just making sure that they are not in the way when it does come crashing down.

In order for any business, institution or country to continue it must continue to respect, support and reward those within or moral fades and interest in the institutions continued existence, let alone success also fades. This I feel is happening now in this country. That the working classes, having been neglected, spit upon and economically and politically ignored are loosing interest in its continuation. And those at the top no longer really care about those underneath.  So the system begins to collapse.