We are losing our sense of history. The communications revolution, with its instant messaging, snapchats and smart phones, has counterintuitively made us stupider. The information barrage is so incessant, there is no time to reflect on the past or to plot a path ahead. That is why the way forward these days usually involves a stumble. Consider the national political scene. If the current crop of candidates makes you want to vote for “None of the Above,” bear in mind there

1. He has insulted Hispanics, women, Muslims, Catholics (by attacking the pope), POW’s. There are not that many groups left to fashion a winning coalition. 2. If he wins the nomination, wait until the opposition unloads. You think what John Oliver did skewered The Donald? You ain’t seen nothing yet. 3. By this time in every presidential nominating contest save one (GOP-1976), a consensus had formed in the late stage primaries around one candidate. That has not happened