Sulla's reformation failed for many reasons. For one he was a dictator in a republican society. Its like the president of the U.S. seized power and ordered a bunch of reforms. The people didn't like absolute power, an Oriental idea. However at the time the Roman Empire was already on its way in the deprevations. Also as many know in the writings of John Julius Norwich "Once corruption has taken hold, it is notoriously hard to eradicate.