But the horrific situation is not just here in the US.
Fascism is advancing in great strides all over the world... 15 years ago I would have said the US would be one of the nations to be most resistant to the trend, now I watch in horror as we lead the march towards authoritarianism and fascism.

American democracy will end- permanently- within the next 4 years, in many ways its already dead, but the plug will be pulled on its life support before the end of 2024. I do not feel I am being alarmist in saying this, I simply think its a fact. As much as it pains me to say it, I simply do not see a way to avoid it- I know this sounds like fatalism- which I have always considered the lazy or cowardly man's excuse for inaction. But I simply see no viable course of action given the current state of affairs.

It's not just America, governments the world over are teetering on the edge, with far right parties gaining traction everywhere. If I had the freedom to pick up and move to the 'safest' country, I would pick New Zealand. Nearly all of Europe, America, Australia are all clearly heading down a very dark path, with increasing speed.

I have long seen a global decline into fascism as inevitable, I just didn't expect it so soon. 15 years ago I thought it likely that it would happen after my lifetime- but with each passing year the likely date has moved many years closer. I had expected the collapse into fascism would be in response to the massive refugee crisis that WILL come as a result of climate change, (Yes, we are seeing a refugee crisis now, but what is to come will be MANY orders of magnitude worse) but the world seems to be preemptively heading to that destination BEFORE that crisis hits in full force. Whether its by design or by a random confluence of factors the world will be in the grip of fascism BEFORE the climate crisis truly hits in force. This will, of course, make everything worse- as governments turn inwards in an effort to control their increasingly panicked and insecure populaces there will be no possibility for the united and global actions needed to address the existential crisis- the crisis will only accelerate.

At some point- very likely in my lifetime, unless I am caught up in one of the first waves of carnage- global civilization will collapse. I suspect the deaths from the coming turmoil will be in the billions by 2050.

Feel free to tell me I am alarmist, or crazy- I genuinely hope you are right- If our democracy is stronger in 2025 than it is today in contrast to my expectations you have my permission to ridicule me mercilessly, and I will be happy to be the butt of the jokes.

But I don't think I am wrong, and I suspect most of you, the ones capable of thinking about such things objectively - on some level- feel the same certain dread as I do.

For once, screaming 'THE END IS NEAR!' doesn't seem so crazy... does it?