About 30 years ago, I read "The Decline and Fall of the Roman Empire". The main message I got from this long book was that the people living in this collapse did not know they were living in a collapse. Things were slowly getting worse, and only a few could realize that life was getting harder than it was a generation ago.

I believe the west is going through this process right now. Yes, you are right, we cannot govern well when we are shrinking.

I have an alternative democracy that I believe is worthy of consideration. For those who cannot see the collapse, it is understandable why they would not investigate it. But for those who can see the collapse, they are paralyzed. They have been programmed not to look for solutions.

And yes, we do need to govern better in our time of shrinkage.