This kind of article is one reason I read you, Shannon. I too have had my issues with Williamson, but she has vivid and smart insights. We are a sick country, in so many ways. We are now the shithole country of the world, like it or not. As a military veteran I once wore a uniform to protect our values. These days I, like you, wonder if eventually getting the hell out of the country that is burning itself to the ground with ignorance and hate is the answer. I dunno. I just moved to a state where nice is normal, but Portland is in some places on fire and invaded by federal forces. I just. don't. know any more. Suffice it to say, we start within. That is where Williamson would point. That is the problem-we don't wish to do the deep work of seeking out the beasts that lurch in our inner worlds, our own ignorance and hate, our self-loathing. Those of us who refuse to do this are doomed to be beasts to others, and we will elect morons (we have, and more Deep state cranks are coming) who rip our country apart. America has been in decline for years. Denial of it doesn't change the facts. Just like denial of having cancer doesn't make it magically disappear. Smart piece, Shannon.