This is an archived article that was published on sltrib.com in 2016, and information in the article may be outdated. It is provided only for personal research purposes and may not be reprinted.

In light of the ascension to president-elect of Pumpkin Man (he who is airbrushed so many shades of orange) it seems people are either over the moon or totally despondent.

Not being one to partake in social media, I remain divested of Twitter fights and Facebook insults and can say I honestly have no cyber-enemies yet. Alas, one of my friends blames the "Rooskies" and their hackers, another friend said it is permissible for a candidate to grope women and their kitty cat because they really like dangerous men! Another neighbor says that women don't want other women to be too successful out of jealousy and their competitive nature.

In any case, while trying to make sense of the election I have read the 2009 book "Empire of Illusion" by Pulitzer winner Chris Hedges. I read all 193 pages quickly and it helped me understand how the election could have turned out as it did. Laying out a blueprint for such results, he sews together such factors as corporate greed, celebrity, salesmanship, illiteracy, media capitulation and pornography as factors leading to a confused electorate. Highly recommended.

Horst Holstein

Salt Lake City