X axis is time, y-axis is reduction in empire’s power. Imo it’s gone something like this:

1) 1965: U.S. becomes fully involved in the Vietnam war under pretext. No war bonds and no congressional approval. Many people realize it’s bullshit and are radicalized. Debt piles up. World is mad.

2) 1971: Vietnam and the Cold War became so expensive that the U.S. far exceeded its gold reserves with synthetic representations of the gold. Peg is destroyed and world leaders know it, soft default to modern fiat system. Tons of goldbugs minted. World more mad.

3) 1990: Persian Gulf war. U.S. playing world police with the clear objective of increased control in the Middle East. After the “war” the United States built a bunch of full scale military bases in the Middle East. Expensive and unpopular empire expansion that created mass blow-back later. World madder.

4) 2001: 9/11. Event that led to fraudulent Iraq and Afghanistan wars, patriot act, and cost 6+ trillion in government spending. Decline started accelerating significantly here.

5) 2008: financial crisis that really turned the USD into a zombie system. Reserve currency network effect and military heft carry enough momentum to keep USD alive for a few more decades. End is in sight.

6) 2020 COVID print: blatant fraud on every level. Kicked off major inflation and hurt credibility of the USD system globally. COVID radicalized millions globally and created ATH in distrust of authority.

7) TBD.

Not sure what will be left after 7 but each x axis event now is gapping up massively on the y axis.