Qualification-free representative democracy has brought us Trump, Biden, Brexit, Le Pen, AfD, Erdogan, Putin, Modi, Orban et al. Ukraine's situation is simply a consequence of the fact our largely accidental experiment with a hopelessly unfit-for-purpose political structure is coming to its well-deserved end. The gridlock, spinelessness, dithering, and sheer monumental stupidity are all symptoms and when we focus on individuals we miss the picture entirely. Unfortunately, the next few hundred years will be a return to humanity's normal condition: mass servitude under the whims of tyrants and dictators. But let's hope after that, a few clever people decide to try something a little more suited for our modern technological complex world. Until then, it's going to be more catastrophies, more stupidity, and more horror.