So THIS is what it felt like in Tuscany, in the late 300s–early 400s, with the barbarians at the gates and weeds growing in Hadrian’s wall. All empires, having risen, eventually fall. Take Great Britain; total badasses for several hundred years then all their European wars and failed colonies finally take them down a notch or two. As their influence wanes, they spend more time taking care of their own and end up with a nifty package of social safety nets and basically no-cost healthcare.
Sure, they’re not kicking ass anymore, they’re especially proud these days, but it’s not like they have rioting in the streets or anything.
We’ll go out like the broke drunk booted from a dive bar, doing our best to trash the place while the bouncer pushes us out, slurring curses and daring anyone to come outside and try and kick our ass. Also the bouncer will be Chinese.