Across the event horizon

That didn't go as I expected

The elections happened. The Democrats lost, badly. Lost the White House. Lost control of the Senate. And there's a really good chance they'll lose the House.

So now what?

When I called the election an event horizon, I didn't really mean it like this. I just couldn't see what lay on the other side. Now that we've crossed it, I feel like we're in the place from which no light can emerge. I feel like we're in the black hole.

It's the strangest place to be. For the next two months, the Biden administration is still in office, but it doesn't really feel like it. It's just the waiting period until the worth thing imaginable happens. (I don't mean that literally; I've experienced far worse, and my experience doesn't begin to touch on how bad things can actually be – like it currently is for the people of Gaza.

So here we are in the time when everyone's an expert. When everyone who couldn't imagine Trump winning now has an explanation for why Harris lost. The most interesting idea I've come across is the concept of hegemonic masculinity, as outlined in this New York Times essay. It's something I need to learn more about, to look into.

Out in the world, people are being horrible to one-another. And what comes next? I can only say "we shall have to see".