It's unnerving just how confident both sides are in emerging victorious in this election. Whatever happens, one side is going to have to reckon with the fact that there's some level of mass delusion going on.

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I'm genuinely uncertain how it would go, but I won't actually be surprised at all if Trump wins despite what the polls tell us.

My natural instinct is to heavily favor System 2 (slow, analytical) over System 1 (fast, intuitive, gut-based) mode of thought, which did burn me the

last time in 2016. Despite claims that the polls have been adjusted to capture the missing voters this year, there's a sneaking suspicion in my gut that the data isn't capturing reality.

Something about the zeitgeist doesn't seem to be reflected in that 89% chance that 538

has given for a Biden win. I can't quite explain it (comes with the territory of using System 1) but the perfect allegory that might be able to is The Mule from Asimov's Foundation trilogy.

Many seem to think that being spectacularly boring, knowing how to STFU, put forth a

veneer of decency, and not be constantly divisive, are all assets this year. This totally ignores though just how much people are drawn to Trump's electrifying, emotion-stoking prowess.

He breaks so many molds and norms and defies all political expectations. As a (liberal) friend recently said to me recently, this election is really about Trump vs. the anti-Trump, which is problematic for the numbers & metrics people because well, it's still all about Trump.

His mere presence and being changes all the rules of the game.

I don't know what happens to America after tomorrow. I just know that if Trump does eke out a victory, there needs to be a post-mortem of polling as a profession and some deep soul-searching among the entire media

pundit-industrial complex. If Biden wins, as expected, conservatives are going to have to learn that not all of our processes and institutions are corrupt and wrong.

Good luck, America. And please stay safe & sane. How *we* respond to whatever goes down does matter. Be kind.