I was in a position of minor power and saw the writing on the wall of abrupt climate change, and what can most charitably be described as "vampire economics" and in that modest perch from which I thought some small good could be done, I raised a warning as best I could. Some heard, most did not, or if they heard felt there was nothing they could do, that it was not their job description. These are the words of that protest, starting with a Dissent Cable written for the U.S. Department of State in 2009, followed by subsequent essays upon my professional demise from that august institution. Sadly it appears we have acted too late. Happily it appears we are a clever shambling beast with a few more tricks up our sleeves. Sadly the situation is more dire than it was then. Tragically a virulent form of insanity is in the cockpit and we have not yet learned to fly on our own, or more importantly, fly collectively for the good of all. Hopefully out of this debacle some desperate beauty will arise, out of the earth, out of our common human hearts, and out of the animating spirits of all of our precious children.