"It wasn't the Goths that defeated Rome--it was their free circuses." Luxuries, Power, Indulgence, had made the once tough Roman people soft. To stay popular there emperors gave them more and more of the ease they craved--free bread, free cicuses, easier living. So the Romans softened up themselves for the ambitious, hard working barbarians. And in 410 A.D. the greatest nation the world had ever seen was invaded and destroyed.
The greedy cry of "something for nothing," the stupid whine of "somebody" else should sacrifice not me" could do exactly the same for this nation-NOW.