What Is Happening? DAN RATHER AND ELLIOT KIRSCHNER SEP 30 (Photo by Ed Jones) We sit on the precipice of a damaging federal government shutdown inflicted by a group of political extremists in Washington who wield, with glee, their power to destroy. Meanwhile, up in New York City and other parts of the Northeast, a different kind of destruction is also driving a shutdown. This one is the result of inundation from life-threatening storms. The primary reaction to both collapses should be concern for those in peril who will suffer. But that worry is accompanied by swells of anger, because the events in Washington and New York have intertwined root causes. And they are infuriating. Our big, bold, diverse, beautiful nation is far too often thwarted in its progress toward a just, peaceful, and equitable future by a cabal of small-minded dead-enders who seek power for power’s sake. And even though their roles as elected officials require they serve the interests of their constituents, they are preoccupied instead with their own pernicious ambitions.  To what end? Other than the craven lure of chaos? It is obvious that our country faces many dire challenges. Government is supposed to help meet many, if not most, of them. We can debate when, where, and how much the government should try to help. We can discuss the best policies and debate priorities, but we cannot abide those who abdicate reality. Leadership is required — from our societal needs, to protecting a functioning democracy, to addressing the escalating effects of the climate crisis. The moment calls for ideas, initiative, and inspiration. Instead, far too often, we get pettiness, pollution, and privilege.  At a time when the United States and the world as a whole require that we come together in a spirit of collaboration and expertise, we get division and ignorance.  It is not a coincidence that the same people seeking to wreck our democracy and thwart the will of the majority are the ones who deny the climate emergency. They thrive on disorientation and are threatened by resilience. They know that it is far too easy to break things, which is their only talent. They then use the cacophony of recrimination and finger-pointing to protect their power.  They belittle those who challenge their motives as shrill, overreacting “snowflakes.” But they are the ones who shrink in fear from the hard glare of the truth.  The rains fall. Our government descends further into dysfunction. We forsake the urgency of the moment. We can see clearly the need for action, for policy, and for a functional response from our leaders. The rational majority is silenced, shouted over, and shut out. But these obstructionists are firmly in the minority, and they may represent the final whimpers of a shrinking faction with waning power.  In crises, we can find rallying points for better leadership and more civic engagement. When things are broken is the best time to elevate those who have the power and ability to fix. When the shutdowns end, maybe we can reopen to a better nation.   Let us hope.