And it's about more than politics and doing deals. We all take sides and fight to win, but we also develop laws and democracy that make for some balance, for keeping things roughly fair.
The political innovation of 'His Majesty's Loyal Opposition' in the UK and of two competing but loyal parties to the US Constitution was a key advance in government that is now under threat. Why would that be?
It's normal for politicians to blame problems on political opponents, but Trump needs to suggest anyone with a different view is an enemy.
And not only the 'extreme right' agree with him. Many in the centre, left and right, accept populist alarms that 'they' have allowed 'things' to go too far. Who are 'they'? Anyone not MAGA. What 'things'? Everything.
Perhaps we can have too much freedom, too much democracy, and then there's a swing back, a cycle. Is that the explanation?
But that History goes in cycles seems again to miss the point. Why would History have cycles and what on earth causes them?
Much of the talk now is about how Trump will end. Isn't that a clue? Nothing lasts forever. And what happens after the end must depend on us and our values.
On Doctor Jekyll and Mr Hyde?
Mr Hyde has to come out sometime simply because he's there and gets tired of hiding?
And then, after some time, so must Doctor Jekyll?
