About the surprizing GDP growth of 4.3%

[NCDem47]

8. Do current events in the U.S. feel familar?

Four common factors in the decline of empires are:

1. economic problems (inflation, overspending--Excessive military budgets or luxury spending drained state coffers);
2. political instability (corruption, weak leadership, overexpansion);
3. social/cultural issues (class conflict, loss of unity, public health);
4. and external pressures (invasions, barbarian migrations) or environmental strains,

often combining to weaken the state from within and without, making it vulnerable to collapse.