When I was a somewhat younger man, I worked at small non-profit which was run cooperatively. The folk in that small group were considerably more left-leaning than I, and we took real pleasure in exploring our different takes on the issues and society at large.

I would often gently scold my "Reagan is evil" friends--in the manner of a frustrated but patient Higgins--to remember that we lived in America, and our institutions were effective at rooting and stamping out the sort of behavior they were concerned about (Iran-Contra, et many al).

Alas, as this administration wreaked its merry havoc on the constitution, and as its minions worked to coarsen discourse, I journeyed several times through the stages of grief, and can now say with certainty that the country that young man imagined(?) is gone. My vaunted institutions did not stand against the evil, they were often its agents. The honest middle is a killing ground; a twilight zone where consideration of another's view is evidence of weakness.

It's often said of the Arab world that they respect only that kind of cynical strength that will do anything to win; sadly, I think the same must be said for Americans now. The insinuation of religious fervor into our politics has led us to dim place where it is difficult for many to distinguish between their candidate and our lord, and where certainty is the cool whole-cloth which covers lies as well as it comforts. 

In an environment where honest discourse is dis-allowed, it behooves us to go long, to fight for our 100%. After all, we're pretty damned sure we're right too. And just maybe, when we have brought the country of that young man back to life, our erstwhile political enemies will recognize it as the same thing they remembered and loved as well.

Hey, anything's possible.