To paraphrase Bob's World who said:
"Something is not failed simply becuase it operates differently than us, nor is it failed if it rejects attempts to change forced upon it so that it would be like us."
Remember it doesn't have to be done the way you'd like to be okay...

We are not failed or even flailing, much less struggling for national survival -- no matter how bad the Politicians screw it up and they are sure doing their usual good job of that -- as for Communism; Guvmint Motors (GM) and the would be NSHSS (National Socialist Health System on Steroids) reject your aspersion.

Sheesh, lighten up, Folks.

P.S.

Bob, I agree with most of your points re: other nations -- and that 'failed state' is a bad and misleading term. One I think is too often used by various activist types, right and left, to promote generally dippy and flawed agendas of all sorts -- and of which little real good comes; most particularly to the 'failed state' in question...

And rarely to he who 'helps.'