So, I guess this means smart, ethical, and charismatic. I feel like this is one of those cases where I get to pick two one of those traits, and it has to be charismatic.

That seems to accurately describe where we find ourselves. To quote Men in Black, “A person is smart, people are dumb.”

I think we don’t get out of this situation by thinking real hard and convincing people to vote based on a theoretical future; people will only change their behaviour in the face of an actual failure. I’m not a historian, but I have to assume the appeal of fascism was alive and well in the US during the great depression. We just had the opportunity to learn from Germany and Italy’s mistakes before we went down the same road. Now WE are the example that will hopefully sway other countries’ democratic behaviors.

Ex. the conservative party was heavily favored to win the Canadian election after Trudeau stepped down, but ever since Trump took office, the polls have completely reversed. Still unclear where it will land, but I think Canada’s voters are getting that much needed opportunity to learn from our failures.