All great empires fall. And almost every day we hear of another indicator that ours is on the path of steep decline. 

The election of that know-nothing, narcissistic grifter without a single redeeming quality is a mere symptom. The problem is the sickness and rot at the heart of a republican base for whom facts and observable reality have no relevance. And to a slightly lesser extent but still significant are the great numbers of Americans too lazy to vote as well as those who couldn't tell the difference between an epically horrific candidate and one who merely displayed the typical imperfections found in most every modern politician. 

Not since a pathetic gaggle of traitors and white supremacists took up arms against the United States have we faced a crisis of this magnitude. I hope there are still enough men and women of good will in this country to reverse America's steep decline.