In general, (I think I remember my history correctly) no nation (controlling government) has survived for more than 200 odd years.

I made this comment quite some time back. Nikita Khrushchev (premier of the U.S.S.R.) WAY BACK IN THE 1960’s, stated the United States would never be defeated in an armed conflict, but would be brought down from within. Strange that our greatest enemy at the time said we could not be defeated, but would destroy ourselves.