[DuncanWaring]

The phrase “Veneer of Civilization” comes to mind.

And that in turn reminds me of a tabletop from which I once tried to sand-out a spot.

Turned out the “spot” was a place where the veneer had worn through, revealing the underlying substrate.

And the more I tried to sand the spot away, the bigger it got.

I’m thinking there’s a relevant metaphor in there somewhere.

[Noumenon]

Well, for good or ill, we got our Man on the White Horse. It appears to be just the medicine we have prescribed for ourselves. As I've said in the past, we're not going to vote or talk our way out of the coming degringolade.