Carthage couldn't conceive of ruling Rome, so they were wiped out by the Romans who couldn't conceive of a Mediterranean not dominated by a single power. The Confederacy had no intention of ruling Yankees, so they were wiped out by the Union who had no intention of letting the empire fracture. The left believes they are engaged in a fight to the death with an existential enemy, and the right doesn't want to fight anyone. This is why conservatives are doomed to failure.