1/Much like the slaveholding states of the south before the Civil War, the GOP's platform seems to be, "we won't cooperate with the democrats on anything, and we'll undo anything they do." The south pushed the north into the same corner in those days.

2/The modern GOP promises us either utter gridlock or utter defeat. There is not now, nor will there be any cooperation in the future. Government either falls under the GOP or it ceases to move under the democrats.

3/This is what befuddles me. Can such a government even exist? Fully 1/3rd of this country opposes everything but its own absolute victory with weapons drawn. The remaining 2/3rd lives in real fear of civil war and without much hope of progress.

4/Must we, as the majority encircle racism with laws and punishments that cover every human act? Have we arrived at a place where we can no longer count on civility or simple decency under any circumstances from a recalcitrant minority?

5/We've spent the last four years bemoaning the fact that the norms in our form of government assume cooperation, pining for laws with teeth that would stop a psychotic president from destroying our country. What now?

6/Is there anyone here who believes time will bring no smarter, less obvious monsters than Donald Trump? Who will rise up as the next president of the American confederacy?

There has to be an answer to this problem, but I don't know what it is.