Resolutions For A Newly Dangerous World

Personal satisfaction in the age of disappointment

The day after the election Virginia and I did the five hour drive home from the cabin. Heading down the rolling two-lane from Babb, just east of the Rockies on the Canadian border, back to Bozeman is always a pretty drive, but that day was particularly gorgeous. A snow storm had just cleared out the last remnants of summer wildfire smoke, and the forever-away views of the prairie and mountains were dramatically punctuated by sunbeams shining through the breaking clouds. It was as good a reminder as any that things aren’t always terrible.

Still, the world changed the night before. A slim majority of Americans rejected ration and empathy in favor of fear, hatred and lies. Given that religious extremists control the justice system, quislings run the legislature, and an unhinged lunatic with stated ambitions to become a dictator will take control of the government on January 20th, it’s probably worthwhile planning for a worst case scenario. One in which we may not again enjoy the unfettere…