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As I don’t hate myself, I typically avoid making New Year’s resolutions.

The Internet is relentless in instructing people how to set them properly, though. From what I accidentally gather, you’re more likely to keep a resolution — and, therefore, less likely to find yourself curled into a ball of self-loathing come Jan. 12 — if you follow these rules: set only one goal, and keep it humble, specific and measurable.

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For instance, do not say: “I will treat my body as a temple.” Do say: “I will moderate my consumption of scotch by limiting Caol Ila intake to just four doubles per evening rather than the entire contents of the bottle.”

In much the same way, democracies can resolve to act a little less drunk in the new year. But their goals should be realistic. The bar of realism, of course, is set relative to the fantastic depths that some democracies sank to in 2015.

A realistic resolution for the United States: In 2016, America can’t be expected to elect a president who has never leveraged anxieties about visible minorities, Muslims, women or immigrants for political gain.