The too far is because they abandoned Goldy values period. The rest is downhill just a matter of when. Study real history not history revisionists of all the great societies. They were raised for one of two reasons. One to thrive until they abandoned Godly principles or 2 to destroy and enslave one society that had done #1. It is cyclical and depends of the quality of the leaders directly as many follow poor leadership but it all brings us all down. So buckle up we are in for a real rollor coaster downhill. Its completely unavoidable. The only question is or when we repent and how bad it gets due to postponing repentance. God disciplines those whom he loves.
I'm not particularly religious, but I do agree that societies have always fallen when debauchery (of all sorts) reigns.
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as far as the original question
I think we are damn close to that right now, but people have most likely been thinking the same since who knows when?
I don't think a central govt should be rebuilt if this one collapses, they can't do anything right. and before I get lectured on military, I say its the individual soldiers who make up the greatness of the U.S.military, the govt ptb get in and screws everything they are doing up.
I'm nearly to the point that I do not believe that we are a 'united' people at all.