I’m a lot more optimistic about democracy than that, and I don’t believe any claims about determinacy or fate. We may pull ourselves out of this or we may not, but “nothing is written,” as Lawrence says in the movie.

(Characteristically, events in the film bring Lawrence’s belief into question, but I’m a nothing is written guy.)

“Many forms of Government have been tried, and will be tried in this world of sin and woe. No one pretends that democracy is perfect or all-wise. Indeed it has been said that democracy is the worst form of Government except for all those other forms that have been tried from time to time.…”

- Winston Churchill