> How I wish people could believe in America, in liberty and the project of civilization and democracy. It just feels like that has slipped so much, that people want (have been incited into wanting) something narrow and different.

I really don't understand how hopelessness, hate, fear, and selfishness are more attractive, but I worry that as attacks on America, liberty, and democracy continue and the worse things get it'll only increase the amount of hopelessness, hate, fear, and selfishness around us. I'm not sure what it would take to break people out of that cycle. Those things are hard enough to fight when times are good and people feel secure.