First, many kind thanks. Second: while this doesn't make me right, I have long written that we humans suffer from two basic and very serious addictions: the need to be right (and everyone else or at least SOMEONE else wrong) and the need to be superior. Look at how often those themes run through conflict, war, divorce, all of our dealings. We use superiority to justify all manner of abuses. Even the lovely Thai people, where I am now, are known to enslave Cambodian and Laotian fishermen desperate to either get out of their countries or to provide for their families. Others enslave Thai girls for sex slave. American Indians raided other tribes for slaves. Shall I go on?

That doesn't justify it. It's just an observation. I believe quite powerfully that the acquistion of humility, the willingness to place ourselves in service to each other, is damned near the only saving grace we've got.

As for sliding towards monarchy, that is precisely what got us Trump. Even the best and brightest (by typical standards, whatever that's supposed to mean) will often lean into authoritarianism. That ONE person can fix it all, be all, save us all.

it's a lethal, horrible lie.