It would be absurd if it wasn't so destructive. I've wondered before whether or not falling into decadence and ultimately self destruction isn't just the natural order of things. Every empire / civilization carved from grit, blood and guts that becomes as big as the US (and GB, Rome, etc) and enjoys all the luxuries of power, technology and wealth that comes with it, seems to inevitably turn soft and begin to rot. Humans need a struggle, something to give their lives purpose beyond drudging away at the millstone and the empty hollow hedonism, robotic consumerism and instant gratification sought to hide from the fact that slaving away for a few sheckles is a fruitless endeavor of cosmic proportions.
But, honestly, I don't believe that it has to be that way at all. The human mind works in predictable patterns, ergo the phrase "history keeps repeating itself".
It doesn't have to, but here we are.