Denying how sick our nation is is as harmful as administering the poison

We're at a point at which the question before us is whether there is any good news that outweighs the grimly obvious fact that it is late in the day.

We're all familiar with the arguments that there is indeed such a decisive counterweight to that fact.

There's the one that enumerates all the benefits of the last two centuries of human advancement: the phones we hold in our hands that hold within them more information than anyone in even 1990 had access to, laser surgery, cars that avoid collisions on their own, drastic reduction in global poverty.

There's the one that appeals to conservatives. It's usually put forth by someone who harbors some degree of enthusiasm for the Trump phenomenon. Judicial appointments are going the right direction. Deregulation and tax cuts have catalyzed a marked boost in economic growth. Official federal policy is no longer tainted with adherence to the fiction of a global climate in crisis. The US once again has Israel's back, and once again understands the threat from Iran. Indeed, the US once again, generally speaking, has a foreign policy based on a clear delineation between allies, adversaries and enemies (with some instances of ambiguity that can hopefully be straightened out).

They're both undeniably compelling, but they don't make the grade as scale-tippers.

In fact, they'll matter little if Western civilization doesn't quit giving the middle finger to God.

Exhibit A for that, of course, is what has happened in Virginia, which, of course, follows closely on the heels of what happened in New York state. Ben Sasse is exactly right, Governor Northam needs to get the hell out of public office.  As does state legislator Kathy Tran.

Both of this horrifying developments, of course, follow on the heels of the attempt to vilify Karen Pence for teaching art at a school the curriculum - and standards of conduct for students, staff and faculty - of which is based on sound Christian doctrine. Also the attempt by Kamala Harris to vilify the Knights of Columbus.   Also the lies told about Brett Kavanaugh during his Supreme Court confirmation hearings.

There is the ethos within the Democrat party, present in increasing degree since the days of Woodrow Wilson, but gathering momentum daily since the dawn of 2019, that posits that money is fungible and that all of it belongs to government, which then doles out parcels of it to individual inhabitants of post-America - citizens, if you will - based on government criteria of worthiness.

Speaking of lies, some others have insinuated themselves into the national understanding of what is so. One is that gender is fluid and, following from that, that the individual can invent himself / herself/ itself without regard to the obvious design of our species and those that predate it. Another is that the above-mentioned advancement must come to a halt if mere survival is going to be a possibility for humankind.

Let's add one more it's-not-really-so-late-in-the-day argument to those listed above. It is that withdrawing our preoccupation from the overarching national level - from the Washington Beltway, to employ a concrete symbol - and turning our focus to our neighborhoods, churches, civic organizations, schools and municipal governments is the key to civilizational renewal.

Here's the problem with that: The rot is now so complete that the local level offers no respite. I know preachers, political candidates and educators who dare not voice their convictions for fear of professional and social ruination. Hence, advocates of "implicit bias" workshops, "stop the hate" panel discussions, coerced recycling, and rainbow flags draped over church fences seizes the reins of community conversation unimpeded. Their premises inform policy everywhere one looks.

The solution?

Each of us has to decide how forthright we can be without harming is or her ability to speak up at all.

Banding together prayerfully is key. Strength in numbers.

Ultimately, it comes down to exercising rigorous stewardship over the inside of one's noggin. That piece of real estate is still yours.

Concede nothing to the devil.

The darkness has not overcome the light entirely, but your part in seeing that we don't experience such a fate is indispensable.