We were sold a big lie, taught that democracy was powerful, and that our system of government was epic in its genius because of a structure of checks and balances that kept anyone from gaining too much power. We became enamored with our own magnificence and, like Smaug, the dragon in The Hobbit, began to think of ourselves as invulnerable. It’s easy to believe that it took just one colossal prick to pop that bubble, but in reality, it was a long time coming. https://medium.com/rome-magazine/forgive-them-for-they-know-not-what-they-do-898f238d9ac1