I've been reading some Roman history. Tragic.

Nerf09

I think there are some lessons to learn here.

How to commit suicide as a nation:

Step#1:  Disobey the Constitution.

The imperial Roman age started with several blatant unconstitutional acts. One of the most famous unconstitutional acts was when Julius Caesar moved his armies from Gaul, across the Rubicon, to march on Rome.  The constitution  stated that governors are not allowed to remove armies from their territories, probably without consent of the Senate, something something.  Caesar was the governor of Gaul.

There was nothing unconstitutional about naming a consul dictator for any number of years, it was just unconstitutional to use your army for political purposes.

Step #2:  Moral decay.

During the Imperial Age, about 100 AD, many Roman writers constantly complained about massive divorce rates, sexual deviancy, and massive drug use.

Step #3:  Massive Taxes.

Nothing beats down a good economy like massive taxation.  During most of Roman history, taxes were about 10% of the GDP.  Today in America we have a tax rate of about 50% of the GDP.  Thats right, government spends about 50% of the Gross Domestic Product here.  Amazing were still kicking.

Step #4:  Divide the central government.

Why would anyone do that?  But the Romans did it when they created two capitols, one in turkey and one in Rome.

Step #5:  Force strange foreign culture on your people, whether they like it or not.

Constantine did it by forcing a Jewish Religion (Christianity) on the Roman people who barely knew what Christianity was all about.  Lucky for them it was a peaceful religion.  Unlucky for them, he ignored Christ's teachings with the Nicene Creed and introduced worldy politics into that ethereal doctrine of spirituality.

Step #6:  Unchecked massive migration, and hordes of hostile immigrants.

Goths, Visigoths, Vandals...

(Were doing 5 out of 6 of them)