The difference in years between right now and George W Bush’s election is the same as between Reagan and Goldwater.  The difference between right now and Clinton’s first term is the difference between Reagan and Eisenhower!  Granted, his second term, but still.

I suppose my current consuming insight is that America is lacking in quality old people.  As my dad put it (around 2003 IIRC) foolishness used to be fatal, but now everything is seat belted, idiot-proofed, and somewhat treatable medically, thus permitting a lot of the less wise to reach old age, and bringing down the average level of wisdom in society.  We can expect young people to be reckless and impulsive, but traditionally the older generation grows out of that.  Thanks to technology, they have not been doing that lately.