End of an Empire

The trouble began when we, as a nation, decided we were no longer capable of doing things.

The time of advancement, we agreed, was over, and the best we could hope was to preserve the traditions and accomplishments of previous generations.

But at what cost? If society doesn’t do anything, why should we pay our share of what is, ultimately, simple maintenance?

So we paid less and less, and had less and less to work with.

And in this way we cut ourselves apart, bit by bit, and cannibalized the pieces, leaving the future for younger, fitter empires to control…