Why Empires Collapse

In this Zero Hedge article, 12 points are given to outline a trajectory towards collapse of an empire.  While there are some really valid observations that I want to touch on because each of the steps of "internal rot" builds on one another, I want to put just a little spin on the article as a whole.  The author begins by stating that "before an empire collapses, it first erodes from within.  The collapse may appear sudden, but the processes of internal rot hollowed out the resilience, resolve, purpose and vitality of the empire long before its final implosion."  On the face value of the quote, I agree that these would be a helpful summary of the gradual steps an empire takes towards its demise. 
My main concern with the entire piece is that while I do think many of the steps to collapse are entirely valid, it does not answer the question as to what really is the problem.  Ultimately, we must probe behind the degradation of resolve, purpose, vitality, etc. to see that what drives all of these is the inherent sinfulness of man.  The first step identified by the author is that "each institution within the system loses sight of its original purpose of serving the populace and becomes self serving.  [The second step is that] the corrupt Status Quo corrupts every individual who works within the system.  Empires decline one corruptible individual at a time." 
And here is my rub, because I do believe that empires decline one individual at a time, and that all individuals are corruptible, and given a corrupt system, this declination can be exponential.  But the status quo is determined not by the goals and purpose of some amorphous civil government or society, but by individuals, and it is the individual first that brings his corruptibility, or sinfulness, into the system where it feeds off of others and corrupts the whole.  And sinfulness is a by product of a society that has determined in its individual parts and its collective whole that it does not need or desire to fall under the authority of God and thus, abandons His ways for their own which seem to be right in their own eyes.  Instead of selflessness, greed reigns, instead of satisfaction, covetousness rules.  And when you lose your ultimate purpose, such as glorifying God and enjoying Him forever, and trade that in for economic, social, political, etc. advancement, there is nothing that you cannot or will not justify to attain those ends.  So yes, original purpose is lost at times, and yes, serving others at the expense of yourself is a trait of the past, but until it is recognized that more productivity, smarter economics and more helpful civil government are not the answer, then salvation from collapse will remain out of grasp.  What is needed is moral reformation.  A reformation that touches every point of life, the individual, the family, the church and then every other sphere of life as man turns away from himself and again to God.