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We took everything for granted, and lost much of what we assumed was safe. No single person has made each one of these assumptions about liberal democracy, or even heard each one articulated. But enough of us believed enough of them, and each one was wrong enough, that here we are.

“Progress is inevitable.”

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History isn’t magic. The moral universe doesn’t naturally bend towards anything, let alone justice. There is opportunity and there is will; people must line them up.

“The West is predisposed to liberal democracy.”

The United States is paying for this vanity. Toronto paid for it, too. Now would be a good time for Canada to find some humility, and not merely for the purpose of bragging about it.

“A democratic party won’t let a madman destroy it from inside.”

The GOP couldn’t stop Donald Trump. More disturbing, many didn’t try. There’s hope in the moral courage of Never Trumpers, and Canada’s own Conservative party members need to take on their own threat early. But already, the threat is winning the leadership contest.