Did Wisdom Die in the First Century?

Cicero wrote in 55 BC the following. Perhaps some today should heed the voices of yesterday. Are we following along the same path as the late great Roman Empire?

clipped from uscommonsense.net The budget should be balanced, the Treasury should be refilled, public debt should be reduced, the arrogance of officialdom should be tempered and controlled, and the assistance to foreign lands should be curtailed lest Rome become bankrupt. People must again learn to work, instead of living on public assistance.