Yes, America is a declining empire, but it has nothing to do with the reasons listed.

Decades of capitalist cruelty has created a social environment so toxic it enabled a clique of conmen to rise to the top.

Now, American hard and soft power are both being dismantled at a rapid pace. Former allies and trade partners are working around the US instead of with it now. It's leadership position has been abandoned, for no good reason at all.

The internal rot is being projected onto the global stage and I don't think Americans quite understand the consequences yet.