A few years ago, I read an excellent book by Malcolm Gladwell called The Tipping Point.  It talks about how many small things can build up until finally one more small thing lights the match that burns down everything. 

The current president of Turkey said that democracy is like a street car:  When you get to your stop, you get off.

When will we reach the tipping point about our democracy?  How will we know when we are there?   Is it when an important agency like the Federal Aviation Administration loses it authority?  No?  How about when the world’s greatest democracy can no longer function well enough to pay its bills?  Is it then time to get off the street car?  No!  That’s easy, it is definitely NOT time now.

But, how will we know when it is?  What has to happen first?  How will we know the street car is at the right stop, and we need to get off?  Will we recognize the tipping point only when we see it in the rear view mirror?